When a filling is needed
A filling seals the defect that decay or a fractured piece leaves behind. First we remove the diseased tissue, then we fill the cavity with a material that restores the tooth’s shape and function. The goal is a tight seal that leaves no gap for new bacteria.
A filling becomes necessary when decay has destroyed hard tooth substance, when a piece has broken off, or when an old filling has become leaky at the margin. The earlier a defect is found, the smaller it stays. That is what regular prevention and dental hygiene are for. How decay develops is explained in our guide on treating tooth decay.
Which materials we use
For smaller to medium defects we use tooth-coloured composite. It is built up directly in the tooth in layers, cured with light and bonded firmly to the tooth substance with the adhesive technique. This way we sacrifice little healthy tooth, and the filling is barely distinguishable from your own tooth.
If the defect is larger and heavily load-bearing, a direct filling reaches its limits. Then we make a ceramic inlay, fabricated to fit precisely and bonded in. Which materials make sense when is covered in our guide on filling materials and the comparison composite or inlay. We no longer use amalgam: we work mercury-free and conserve substance.
What to expect
If needed we numb the tooth locally so the treatment stays painless. Then we remove the decay, isolate the tooth and place the composite in layers, curing it. Finally we adjust the filling to your bite and polish it so it feels natural when you chew. A small filling is often done in a single visit.
From filling to inlay
As the defect grows, the right restoration shifts. If too much substance is destroyed, a direct filling no longer holds reliably, and an inlay or partial crown follows. If decay reaches the nerve, a root canal treatment is needed first, before the tooth is definitively restored. We discuss with you the option that best preserves your tooth.
