Dental fillings
Dentists place dental fillings to:
- restore missing tooth structure (from either breakage or decay)
- change or enhance the tooth shape (often as part of cosmetic dental treatment).
At Richmond Road Dental, our dentists place fillings with great care, usually under a local anaesthetic, to ensure the patient’s comfort.
We use various modern filling materials to restore teeth to their original appearance and function.
Types of fillings available at Richmond Road Dental
Several different types of fillings are available, each with benefits and drawbacks. Your dentist will recommend and help you choose the most appropriate material for each situation.
There are two main types of direct dental filling materials:
- Tooth-coloured or ‘white’ fillings (composite resin or glass ionomer cement).
- Metal or ‘silver’ fillings (dental amalgam).
Composite resin (tooth-coloured) fillings
The filling material we use most often is composite resin. This tooth-coloured dental resin comes in many shades, so it’s possible to match the colour of the patient’s natural teeth. As a result, composite resin fillings are far less noticeable than metal-based fillings.
Composite resin fillings are ideal for front teeth, where aesthetics are vitally important. White restorations can also be used for back teeth. Modern composite resins are quite strong and often last for many years. If extra strength is required, your dentist may recommend a ceramic-based filling like an inlay, onlay, or dental crown.
Our dentists will preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible when placing fillings. This approach is known as “minimally invasive dentistry”. Composite resin is a helpful material for this type of dentistry because it bonds so well to the teeth.
Glass ionomer cement
Glass ionomer cement is another tooth-coloured filling that bonds well to teeth. This material isn’t as strong as composite resin but is rich in fluoride, providing added benefits in certain situations.
Our dentists may recommend glass ionomer cement fillings for:
- tooth-coloured temporary fillings
- teeth that would benefit from some internal strengthening. The fluoride-rich material can enhance the strength of teeth.
- treating children; glass ionomer cement sets quickly, making it an excellent option for young children
- filling cavities at the gumlines of teeth. The presence of a fluoride-rich material helps protect these tricky-to-clean areas from further decay.
Amalgam
Amalgam restorations, also known as silver fillings, have been used by dentists in Australia for many years to repair and restore millions of teeth. They are safe, strong, long-lasting, easy to use, and cost-effective.
Nowadays, dentists tend to use tooth-coloured composite resin most frequently in their practices because patients prefer its aesthetic appeal.
Important to know
- A filling cannot prevent a tooth from decay. To keep filled teeth healthy, they must be kept clean through daily brushing and flossing.
- A filled tooth is never as strong as an unfilled tooth. That’s why our dentists promote preventative dental care.
- If a tooth needs a more robust filling or has specific cosmetic requirements beyond the abilities of composite resin, your dentist may suggest a:
- gold or ceramic inlay or onlay
- gold or ceramic crown
- ceramic or porcelain veneer.
- This page contains general information about dental fillings. It cannot replace individualised advice from your dental practitioner. Please consult your dentist for specific recommendations about your oral health and necessary treatments.
Quality dental fillings by Richmond Road Dental
For quality dental treatment, please contact our friendly reception team to make an appointment with one of our gentle dentists.
Resources about dental fillings
Learn more about dental fillings
- Dental fillings (Opens in a new tab) – An article by the Australian Dental Association
- Tooth decay (Opens in a new tab) – An article by the Australian Dental Association
- Should I remove my amalgam fillings? (Opens in a new tab) – An article by the Australian Dental Association
Videos about dental fillings
Dental fillings
A video about dental fillings produced by the Smiling Signs project. The information is provided in simplified English and Auslan. (Playing time: 14 minutes, 26 seconds.)
Downloadable information sheets about dental fillings
Download these helpful information sheets
- Tooth decay – A fact sheet produced by the Australian Dental Association
