How To Tell If You Need a Dental Filling

What Dental Fillings Are

These restorations are used to restore the structure, function, and appearance of a tooth that's been damaged or decayed, alleviating tooth pain you may be experiencing.

Why Are Dental Fillings Used?

A dental filling can be used to fill cracks and tooth decay. They can help return proper function to your tooth, as well as in some cases, dental fillings can be used to make cosmetic alterations to your smile.

What Are Some Signs I May Need A Dental Filling?

While it is important that you talk to your dentists to confirm if you need a filling or not, there are a few signs that may indicate a cavity that needs to be filled. If you experience any of these, schedule an appointment with your dentist:

You have a sharp or throbbing pain in your tooth.
Your tooth becomes broken or chipped.
An existing tooth filling has broken or cracked.
Your tooth feels rough to the touch.
You've lost a tooth filling and need it to be replaced.
When you examine your teeth, you see a hole or dark spot.
Food keeps getting stuck between certain teeth.

What Are Dental Fillings Made From?

Dental fillings can be made of a number of materials, from amalgam to composite, porcelain and gold. While each of these materials is safe and long-lasting, they also each have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to repairing a cavity or decay. Here, our dentists provide advice on how to make the right dental choice for you.

Porcelain Fillings for Strength & Appearance

Also called inlays and onlays, porcelain fillings are brittle, hard, and made in combination with metal. Made in a dental lab and sent back to your dentist to place, these strong, tooth-coloured dental restorations are typically used on molars as they are more durable and longer lasting than a regular dental filling.

You’ll usually need to attend two dental appointments so your porcelain filling can be placed in your mouth.

Composite Fillings for a Natural Look & Feel

Because they are very similar in colour to natural teeth, composite fillings tend to blend in well with the surrounding teeth.

They look and feel natural, and are popular with patients who are concerned with how amalgam (grey) fillings may appear on teeth that are visible when they smile.

Dentists like composites because they are easy to sculpt and shape onto a tooth, and bond naturally to a tooth. This means your dentist won’t need to remove as much existing enamel when preparing the tooth.

Your dentist will remove tooth decay and add bonding material to the inside of the hole so the filling can be placed. Composite resin is then layered in the hole.

A curing light is used to harden each layer. When the last layer of resin has hardened, the filling will be carefully shaped to match your natural teeth.

Gold Fillings for Durability

Cast gold fillings are made using a model of your tooth. Created from a mix of gold combined with other materials such as copper and silver, a cast gold filling is created in a dental lab and sent back to your dentist.

Your gold filling will then be adhered to your tooth. Though this type of filling is considered the most durable (typically lasting 20 years or more) it is also the most costly. You'll also require at least two dental appointments to have it placed.