We have developed dental protocols to make sure your white fillings feel great and last for years. We consider both the procedural application and the material selection to secure a complete solution. After all, the goal is that you won't see a dark or discoloured 'scar' from the procedure. We also want to be able to leave the tooth intact for as long as possible.
White fillings, being bonded to the tooth, allow us to remove less healthy tooth structure compared to old amalgam fillings. This conservative approach ensures that we preserve more of your natural tooth structure, which is our primary goal and should give you peace of mind.
Composite resin fillings also don't react to temperature in the same way metal fillings do. Constant temperature changes in your mouth cause metal fillings to expand and contract, weakening them and pulling the filling away from your tooth structure. This allows bacteria to reenter the tooth and cause decay again. This is one of the reasons we sometimes replace metal amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured composite fillings.
The versatility of composite resin material is truly remarkable. It allows us to eliminate minor cosmetic smile flaws through a procedure called dental bonding. With dental bonding, we can repair smile concerns like chipped teeth, gaps between teeth, tooth size discrepancies, and tooth stains or discolouration, giving you a reason to smile brighter.
Procedure for Fillings at Edward St Dental
First, we ensure that you are comfortable. For most tooth filling procedures, we apply a topical anaesthetic before we numb the area for improved comfort. In some cases, when a filling is very small, we can forego numbing if you choose. Once you are completely comfortable, we typically take the following steps:
- Gently remove any tooth decay
- Sterilise the inside of the tooth to prevent the spread of bacteria
- Apply a bonding agent to the tooth
- Apply shade-matched composite to fill the tooth
- Harden the material using a special curing light
- Polish the tooth for a seamless finish
Once your procedure is complete, you can chew right away, but it's best to avoid chewy or hot foods while you are still numb, as you can accidentally burn or bite the inside of your cheek or tongue.
Root Canal Treatment & Tooth Crowns for Severe Decay
If a dentist has advised that you need to have a tooth filled, the reason is to stop the progression of dental decay. Cavities that progress can cause a root infection, requiring root canal therapy and potentially a dental crown.
You might ask, "If I don't get the filling now, how long will it take before the problem gets worse?" The answer is that it varies; problems could emerge after several weeks or take months. You may not realise it's getting worse because, by the time dental pain occurs, it's usually an emergency situation.
Tooth-coloured fillings are made of a white composite resin. At Edward St Dental in Brisbane CBD, we use them to create a seamless tooth repair that looks natural and restores normal function. 
