Composite Fillings are one of the most common, routine treatments we perform here at Heslington Dental Practice, and our team is entirely focused on keeping you comfortable.
Today, we are opting for composite fillings (tooth-coloured or white fillings) over traditional silver amalgam.
They blend seamlessly with your natural teeth and bond directly to the tooth structure, allowing us to preserve as much of your healthy tooth as possible.
The Step-by-Step Procedure
A composite filling is a precise dental treatment. To give you peace of mind, here is how we restore your tooth from start to finish:
1.Numbing the Area:
First, we make sure you won’t feel a thing. We apply a numbing gel to your gums before delivering a local anaesthetic. You will feel a slight pinch, but within a few minutes, the tooth and surrounding area will be completely numb.
2.Removing the Decay:.
Once you are fully comfortable, the dentist uses specialised instruments to gently remove the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth. Because composite materials bond so well, we only need to remove the damaged tissue, leaving your healthy enamel intact.
3.Etching and Bonding:
Next, we prepare the tooth surface. We apply a mild acid etch gel for a few seconds to microscopically roughen the enamel, which is then rinsed away. After drying the tooth, a liquid bonding agent (dental glue) is applied to ensure the filling anchors perfectly.
4.Layering the Composite Resin:
The composite resin, which has a putty-like consistency, is carefully matched to the exact shade of your tooth. The dentist shapes and molds it into the cavity in thin layers to mimic the natural contours of your tooth.
5.Curing (Hardening) the Material:
Between each layer, we shine a specialised blue bonding light directly onto the resin. This light-curing process triggers a chemical reaction that hardens the pliable resin into a durable, solid structure in roughly 20 to 40 seconds.
6.Shaping, Trimming, and Polishing:
Once the cavity is entirely filled and hardened, we check your bite using a thin piece of articulating paper. We trim away any minor excess and polish the filling until it feels completely smooth to your tongue and matches the sheen of your surrounding teeth.
What to Expect After Your Appointment
The beauty of composite fillings is that the blue curing light sets them instantly. You don’t have to wait hours for the material to harden like old silver fillings.
Post-Treatment Tip: You can eat and drink immediately after leaving the practice! However, we highly recommend waiting until the local anaesthetic wears off completely (usually 2 to 3 hours) to prevent accidentally biting your tongue or cheek.
It is completely normal to experience some mild cold or pressure sensitivity for a few days following the procedure as the nerve settles down. Over-the-counter pain relief can easily manage any minor discomfort.
