Fillings

Fillings

Fillings are used to repair a cavity in your tooth caused by decay. There are different types of filling that will be given depending on the suitability for your teeth

What to expect?

When you arrive for your appointment the dentist will inject numbing gel onto the problematic area, this will help numb any pain felt from the drilling. The dentist will then use a small drill to remove any decay from the tooth and whilst it might hurt a little, most of the pain will have been mitigated from the numbing gel. The dentist will then apply the filling after this has been done. There are many different types of fillings that can be used with some cheaper than others whilst others have special properties such as being able to release fluoride which prevents further tooth decay. The dentist will provide more information about each option as well as a recommendation for the most suitable.

FAQ

  • What is the price? – If you are an NHS patient then the treatments falls in the band 2 treatment which means that they are at around £47, if you are on a private treatment then prices start from around £42 and increase depending on what is done and the material used
  • How long do they last? – most fillings last 10 years with some made out of gold lasting up to 20 years. Their lifespan however can be reduced depending on a number of factors such as grinding them whilst asleep, their hygiene and if they undergo dental trauma.
  • What do they feel like? – Many people have different sensitivities and so ist are to say what it truly feels like but the most common answer is that whilst they will initially hurt for a bit gradually your tooth will get used to it and eventually it will feel like nothing.
  • Does it stop me from eating a certain food? – After getting your filling done, you are recommended to have soft warm food such as soup to allow the filling to harden and allow your mouth to adjust. Gradually you can introduce harder and more chewy food over time to your teeth. The dentist will give an exact list of food to avoid in the immediate post filling period.