Fillings (Restorations)

Fillings (Restorations)

Fillings, as you most likely know, are utilised in restoring the hole created during the process of clearing out decay (caries) from a tooth.

Traditionally, fillings are either white (tooth coloured) or silver (amalgam). They can be made of gold as well, but that is seldom used these days even though a gold filling if done well will outlast pretty much anything else. They can also be made of porcelain. The gold and porcelain fillings require a lab technician to make them and they are then glued in, requiring an extra visit compared to a standard filling, which also makes them more costly.

The longevity of a filling is dependent on many variables, some of which are the size, position and material. The patient’s diet and how well they brush and maintain good oral hygiene also plays a big role in their longevity. We normally inform the patient that realistically a white filling will last them somewhere between 6-10 years (this is a research driven figure), depending on the material and also the above variables. Some fillings will last significantly longer, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

The most common question pertaining to fillings is usually how much does a filling cost? This again will vary greatly depending on the following:

1. Size of the filling (how many surfaces)
2. Position in the tooth.
3. Ease of access to the tooth in the mouth can play a role, some easy some hard.
4. Some very time consuming and some can be very quick.
5. Type of material used.

On average the only information we can give a patient is a range, which is usually anything between $150 to $300, taking into account the above 5 points. The only way to quote an exact amount is for a dentist to examine your tooth and they are then able to give you an accurate quote.

Larger fillings (usually those that make up 60% of the tooth or more by volume) are more prone to breakages especially if they make up most of the chewing surface of the tooth. This usually necessitates in the patient having a crown (please refer to the crown & bridge section) in order to solidify the structural integrity of the tooth. In some situations, removing the standard filling and replacing it with a lab made gold or porcelain filling will improve the structural integrity with no need for a crown.