Material
Tooth-coloured composite, shade-matched. No new amalgam.
In one paragraph
What it is.
A filling repairs a tooth that has decayed or chipped. We use tooth-coloured composite, bonded to the tooth, so it holds the tooth together rather than just plugging a hole.
Not every dark spot on an X-ray needs drilling. Early decay can often be arrested and watched, and we would rather do that than cut into a tooth you could have kept intact.
The specifics.
One visit
Placed, shaped and polished in the same appointment.
When not to
Small early lesions are often better monitored and remineralised than filled.
When a filling is not enough
If too much tooth is gone, a filling will keep failing. We will say when a crown or onlay is the honest answer.
Replacing old fillings
Only when there is a reason: decay underneath, a crack, or a failing margin. Not on age alone.
Numbness
Local anaesthetic as standard. Sedation options are assessed individually.
Money
What it costs.
You get an itemised written estimate before anything starts. We bill your insurance directly, so you usually pay only your own portion on the day, and the Canadian Dental Care Plan is accepted. In-house financing is available through PaySpyre, so treatment can be paid for over time.
Questions.
How long does a filling last?
It depends on size, position and your bite. Small composite fillings commonly last many years; large ones in heavy-chewing teeth work harder and do not last as long.
Do you still use amalgam?
We place tooth-coloured composite. We do not remove sound amalgam fillings that are doing their job.
Will it hurt?
The tooth is numbed first. Most people find the injection the least pleasant part and the filling itself uneventful.
Can I eat afterwards?
Composite sets immediately, so yes — but wait until the numbness wears off so you do not bite your cheek.