General Dentistry

The idea of having fillings can cause patients some concern, but the majority of adults in the UK now have at least one filling, if not more. Fillings are used to fill in cavities in the teeth caused by dental decay or trauma, restoring the ability to bite and chew and restore the appearance of the teeth. Caused by ineffective brushing and flossing and a high sugar and starch diet, dental decay dissolves the teeth. As teeth cannot self-repair, this decay leads to the formation of cavities. Ignoring dental decay and cavities can have serious consequences for your overall dental hygiene, but timely treatment with a filling can prevent further deterioration by blocking out entry points for bacteria.
The process of filling is straightforward and, depending on the number of teeth affected, can generally be carried out in under an hour. During the appointment, the dentist will remove decay from the affected tooth, clean out the cavity and pack in the filling material of choice. Modern filling materials include gold, amalgam (a blend of silver, mercury, copper), composite resin and porcelain; the material used for your filling will depend on a number of factors including the severity of the decay, location in the mouth, and patient budget.

Prices start from £95.

As with many dental procedures, tooth sensitivity is a common side effect in the immediate days after the treatment. Patients can find teeth are sensitive to hot and cold liquids and sweet foods, and we recommend avoiding these until the teeth have settled. Sensitivity can last for one or two weeks, but if it does not, a check-up may be necessary.

No, it should not hurt to have cavities filled. We use a local anaesthetic to numb the area to minimise discomfort. You may experience numbness around the site for a couple of hours after the procedure.

How long a filling will last depends on the material chosen and you as a patient. Gold fillings can last up to 30 years, whilst silver fillings tend to be around 10 to 15 years. Composite resin fillings will need to be replaced every five to seven years.

You may need to replace a filling sooner if you grind your teeth or a filling cracks, and overall

Yew Tree Dental Care are based in Slough and are highly experienced in applying fillings for all ages of patients. Whether it’s your first filling or you require repair or replacement, we’ll be happy to discuss your options with you.

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