Composite Tooth Filling

A tooth-coloured composite filling restores a tooth affected by decay, wear or a small fracture, rebuilding its shape and function with a material shaded to match the surrounding enamel. At MM Kaczmarek fillings are placed under local anaesthetic, with computer-controlled WAND anaesthesia available for a gentler injection. Glass-ionomer fillings are offered as an alternative in certain situations, and the price reflects the size and complexity of the cavity being treated.

A composite filling is a direct restoration used to repair a tooth where decay, an old failing filling, wear or a minor chip has damaged the natural structure. After any decay is removed, the cavity is built back up in layers of tooth-coloured resin, which is hardened with a light and then shaped and polished so it blends with the rest of the tooth and restores comfortable biting. Because composite bonds to the tooth and can be matched to its shade, repairs are discreet and conserve as much healthy structure as possible. At MM Kaczmarek the procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic; for nervous patients or sensitive areas, the clinic offers WAND computer-controlled anaesthesia, which delivers the numbing solution slowly and steadily for a more comfortable injection. A rubber dam (koferdam) can be used to keep the tooth dry and clean while the filling is placed. Where appropriate, a glass-ionomer material may be chosen instead — for example in certain root-surface or paediatric situations — and a temporary dressing can be placed if a tooth needs settling before a definitive restoration. The final cost depends on how large and complex the cavity is. A filling is suitable for adults and children with early-to-moderate tooth damage; the dentist will advise if a tooth is too broken down for a filling and would be better restored with an inlay, onlay or crown.