Dental fillings

Fillings are one of the most basic methods of restoring teeth, usually when they have been damaged by tooth decay.

Dentist examining patient's teeth

Types of dental fillings

At Tetbury Dental Practice, we offer both tooth-coloured (white) fillings, which are virtually invisible, and the traditional grey amalgam ones. Many people prefer the tooth-coloured (white) ones simply because they look so much better.

The procedure

We normally numb the tooth and the surrounding area with a local anaesthetic. Once numb, we will drill the decayed material from the tooth, and will then fill the hole with either amalgam (metal) or tooth-coloured material.

We will then shape the filling so it does not interfere with the way you bite and chew. For tooth-coloured fillings, the shaping also helps the tooth to look as realistic as possible.

Information about different filling materials can be found on the British Dental Health Foundation's website.