Fillings

If you have suffered from tooth decay then our dental experts will be able to fill that hole in and restore your tooth before extraction becomes necessary. Thanks to their colour matching that of your tooth, it will blend in nicely, leaving you with a more natural look. Inlays and onlays are also another cosmetic option to be considered.

When your tooth shows signs of decay, your Lavender Dental & Implant Clinic dentist can help to stop it before any further damage is caused. Fillings are applied to small and developing cavities to restore your tooth back to its normal shape and prevent any further decay.

Spot decay before it gets serious

When you visit for a check up, your dentist will use a small inspection mirror to assess the surface of your teeth, looking for signs of decay or little cracks and fissures. They will let you know as soon as they see anything that might require treatment, and a small filling is a lasting preventative solution that far outweighs a root canal treatment, which can be the result of extensive decay. By closing up the gap, your dentist is preventing bacteria from getting in and preserving your tooth in the least invasive way.

The process is straightforward and often only requires one or two appointments at your local Leicester practice. Once your dentist has assessed the area that requires treatment, they will clear out any decay before filling the clean cavity with a material of your choice.

What kind of fillings are available?

There are a number of different materials that can be used to fill a hole in your tooth. Indirect fillings are those that require a couple of visits to Lavender Dental & Implant Clinic as the tooth is treated with a tailormade filling that has to be crafted to your needs in a dental laboratory before fitting. Direct fillings are those that can be applied in one sitting, or chairside. White or tooth coloured options prove to be the most popular of these options as they remain the quickest and most natural-looking of the options – no one can tell that you’ve had a filling.

Indirect:  

  • Gold fillings. Gold is known for its low reactivity, meaning it is a safe substance to leave in your mouth for years. Gold fillings are also long-lasting and could stay in place well for over 20 years. However, gold fillings are also ‘indirect’, so they require manufacture in a dental laboratory and then applying to your teeth, making this one of the longer processes.
  • Porcelain fillings. Porcelain fillings are referred to as onlays or inlays, and are custom-made and then fitted to your teeth. They boast a similar durability to that of gold fillings, but look more natural.

Direct:

  • Silver (amalgam) fillings. Silver fillings are also durable, but due to their noticeable colour are mostly used for treating the back teeth.
  • Composite resin fillings. Composite resin is a kind of plastic that will match your natural tooth colour, making a filling less visible. The resin mixture can be poured straight into the cavity, making it a relatively quick treatment, if a little less durable than gold or silver.

Should you require a filling, your dentist will discuss with you the different options available and best advise on the most suitable for you and your teeth.

When was your last check-up? Contact Lavender Dental & Implant Clinic on 0116 222 1880 today to book your next one.

Treatments

Root canal treatment

If you have been experiencing severe tooth pain, it is possible that you may require root canal treatment. Your Lavender Dental & Implant Clinic dentist can treat your tooth without the need to remove it, leaving you pain-free and in good oral health.

    Treatments

    Inlays and onlays

    If you have damage to a tooth that cannot be fixed with a filling, our Lavender Dental & Implant Clinic dentists can fit an inlay or onlay to cover the damage and restore your tooth to its natural looking state.

      Care & advice

      FAQs

      We've put together a list of frequently asked questions for you to browse through prior to your appointment.