{"id":7161,"date":"2019-02-05T05:32:22","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T04:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/?page_id=7161"},"modified":"2024-12-03T11:16:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T10:16:08","slug":"tooth-filling","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/tooth-filling\/","title":{"rendered":"Tooth Filling Guide: Dental Filling Costs, Types, Procedure and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you need a tooth filling<\/strong>, or are you putting off getting one because you’re nervous about it? Nobody loves visiting the dentist, but fillings are a very common restorative dental procedure<\/a> to help prolong the life of your teeth.<\/p>

Do fillings hurt? Many people worry about tooth filling pain, but thanks to modern dentistry techniques the procedure is usually pain-free. You may experience some sensitivity after a filling but there are ways to reduce any discomfort. Below you can read more about how fillings are done, how long they take, and what precautions you should take after getting a filling.<\/p>

We also explain the different types of fillings, the materials dentists use, how much an NHS filling costs, and what you can expect to pay with a private dentist.<\/p>

We hope this guide answers all your questions about dental fillings and prepares you for your next trip to the dentist.<\/p>

Or \u2014 if you’d like to chat directly with a dentist<\/strong> about treatment, you can go to JustAnswer<\/a><\/strong>, where. team of certified dentists is available 24\/7<\/strong> to answer your questions. <\/p>

Talk to a dentist now<\/a><\/div>

What is a filling?<\/h2>

A tooth filling is a type of dental restoration which repairs damage caused by tooth decay<\/strong> and prolongs the life of the tooth.<\/p>

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Fillings are an effective way to repair damage from tooth decay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Fillings are a very common dental procedure – as many as 80% of adults end up with at least one filling during their lifetimes, and most people have several. In the year 2017-2018, NHS dentists in England performed over 10.2 million filling treatments for adults and 3.3 million for children, according to NHS statistics<\/a>. 24% of adult treatment courses included fillings during this time.<\/p>

To treat a tooth with dental caries (tooth decay) in this way, a dentist first drills out all the decayed material and cleans the cavity. They then fill the hole in the tooth with one of a number of filling materials.<\/p>

Once the filling is complete, the tooth can function as normal for many more years.<\/p>

If left untreated, tooth decay will continue to erode the tooth, leading to cavity pain. An abscess may eventually form somewhere around the tooth, requiring more drastic treatment like root canal work or even an extraction<\/a>.<\/p>

You may not relish the idea of having a filling, but it’s really the best way to stop decay in its tracks and preserve the tooth for as long as possible.<\/p>

Types of tooth fillings – what are dental fillings made of?<\/h3>
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Find out about your options for dental fillings<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

There are various different tooth filling materials that dentists use according to the type of filling. For a front tooth filling, for instance, dentists typically use a tooth-coloured material. Many of these dental adhesives<\/a> are the same as those used to attach crowns, bridges and veneers.<\/p>

Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks in terms of:<\/p>