Dental Fillings

Dental Fillings are one of the most common and essential procedures in dentistry. They play a vital role in restoring teeth that have been compromised by decay or damage, ensuring that you can continue to enjoy a healthy, pain-free smile.
The Importance of Dental Fillings
Preservation of Natural Teeth
Dental Fillings are primarily used to repair teeth affected by cavities or minor damage. By removing the decayed or damaged portions of the tooth and filling the resulting space, Dental Fillings help preserve your natural teeth. This preservation is crucial because your natural teeth are your best teeth.
Prevention of Further Damage
When left untreated, tooth decay and cavities can progress, leading to more extensive damage. Dental Fillings prevent the decay from spreading and causing more significant problems. By restoring the tooth’s structure and function, fillings act as a barrier, halting the progress of decay.
Enhanced Oral Health
A decayed or damaged tooth can be a source of infection and discomfort. Dental Fillings not only eliminate these issues but also contribute to better oral health overall. When your teeth are healthy and pain-free, you’re more likely to maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine, further promoting your well-being.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Modern dental fillings are designed to blend seamlessly with your natural tooth color, ensuring a virtually invisible restoration. This means that you can maintain the aesthetics of your smile while addressing dental issues discreetly.
The Dental Fillings Process
Understanding the Dental Fillings process is essential for a successful and comfortable treatment journey. Let’s explore the various stages involved in restoring your smile with Dental Fillings:
1. Initial Assessment
Your journey to a restored smile begins with an initial assessment at Dental Care Centre UK. During this crucial visit, our experienced dentist will:
- Listen to your dental concerns and gather information about your oral health history.
- Perform a comprehensive examination of your oral health, including an assessment of any tooth decay or damage.
- May recommend digital X-rays to gain a more detailed view of the affected tooth’s condition.
The initial assessment is a crucial step as it allows our dentist to create a customised treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
2. Anesthesia Administration
Before commencing the dental fillings procedure, our dentist will administer a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout the treatment. You can rest assured that you will not experience pain during the filling process.
3. Tooth Preparation
Once you are comfortable, the dentist will begin the tooth preparation process. This step involves removing the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth. Our dentist will use specialised instruments to carefully clean and shape the affected area, ensuring all decay is removed.
4. Filling Material Selection
Dental Care Centre UK offers a variety of dental filling materials to suit your unique needs and preferences:
- Composite Fillings: These tooth-coloured fillings are an excellent choice for restoring front teeth and highly visible areas. They blend seamlessly with your natural tooth colour and are cosmetically appealing
- Amalgam Fillings: Amalgam fillings, often referred to as silver fillings, are durable and suitable for restoring back teeth where chewing forces are stronger. While they are silver in colour, they offer robust performance.
- Ceramic Fillings: Ceramic fillings, also known as inlays or onlays, are highly aesthetic and provide excellent durability. They are custom-crafted to match the colour and texture of your natural teeth.
- Glass Ionomer Fillings: These fillings are typically used for small cavities or in pediatric dentistry. They release fluoride to help prevent further decay.
Our dentist will discuss the best filling material for your specific situation, taking into consideration factors such as tooth location, size of the filling, and cosmetic preferences.
5. Filling Placement
Once the tooth is prepared and the filling material selected, our dentist will carefully place and shape the filling to restore the tooth’s natural form and function. The filling material will bond securely to the tooth, ensuring long-lasting durability.
6. Final Polishing and Bite Adjustment
To complete the Dental Fillings procedure, our dentist will meticulously polish the filling to achieve a smooth and natural finish. Any necessary adjustments will be made to ensure your bite is comfortable and properly aligned.


Aftercare and Maintenance
Maintaining your Dental Fillings and overall oral health is straightforward. Dental Care Centre UK recommends the following steps:
- Regular Dental Check-ups: Schedule routine dental check-ups at our clinic to monitor the condition of your dental fillings and ensure your oral health.
- Proper Oral Hygiene: Maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine, including brushing, flossing, and using an antiseptic mouthwash.
- Balanced Diet: Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in sugary and acidic foods to help prevent future cavities.


FAQs
If tooth decay is at its early stages, it can only be detected by our dental experts during routine check-ups. When tooth decay advances, you may notice a black discoloration in your teeth, sensitivity to hot, cold, and sweets, or food stuck between your teeth.
Dental filling is not a painful procedure. Before proceeding with caries removal, our dental experts will administer local anesthesia to numb the area for your comfort.
There are several types of dental fillings. The selection depends on several factors, such as aesthetic requirements, cavity size, caries index, and patient preference. In general, amalgam fillings are used in posterior teeth, while white fillings are favored in esthetic areas. Indirect ceramic fillings (inlays/onlays) are used when there is more extensive tooth destruction. Glass ionomer material is the restoration of choice for children’s teeth where a caries-resistant filling is needed.
Silver fillings are durable fillings. Choosing to replace the silver filling with a white one depends on the patient’s preference, filling size, and tooth condition. Consult our dental professionals if you need to replace your silver fillings.
It is advised to wait for a few hours before eating until the effect of anesthesia wears off to avoid accidental biting on your tongue or cheeks.
It is normal to experience mild sensitivity for hot and cold for a few weeks after filling. If the sensitivity does not subside, consult our dental experts immediately.
You can eat normally on your dental filling. It is advised to avoid sticky food to prevent fracture or dislodgment of the restoration.
Several types of dental filling vary in terms of durability. White fillings last about 5-7 years, while amalgam fillings may survive around 10-15 years. It is essential to maintain regular check-up visits to detect early signs of restoration failure.
No dental filling can last forever. A filling replacement will be advised if our dental professionals notice any signs of dental filling failure during check-up visits.
Dental fillings do not require special care instruction. Regular brushing twice daily and flossing are sufficient to maintain your dental fillings longer.
Other General Dental Treatments

PREVENTIVE CARE
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ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
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BONDING
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FLEXIBLE DENTURES
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BRIDGES
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MOUTHGUARDS
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CHILDRENS DENTISTRY
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CROWNS
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ALL-ON-4 IMPLANTS
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ORTHODONTICS
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DENTURE STABILISATION
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HYGIENIST
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ORAL CANCER SCREENING
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AIR ABRASION
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Dentist Near You
If you require local dentist in London or any type of private or NHS dental treatment in New Cross contact the Dental Care Centre today.
OTHER DENTAL TREATMENTS AVAILABLE

SPECIALIST TREATMENTS
These treatments use specalist technology, need more involved care, or are for a specific group of patients, like children.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY
From smile makeovers and tooth whitening to invisibraces. We offer a wide range of cosmetic services to guarantee a great smile in 6 months