Composite (Tooth-Coloured) Fillings

Repairing a tooth in a single visit with a tooth-coloured composite material after the decay has been removed.

Duration

20 to 45 minutes

Anaesthesia

Usually local

Visits

One

Durability

7 to 10 years and beyond

What is a composite filling?

Composite is a tooth-coloured filling material that hardens under light. After the decay is removed, the cavity is filled in thin layers, each cured with a blue light, and shaped to match the tooth. Compared with silver amalgam, it looks natural and bonds to the tooth, so less healthy tooth structure needs to be removed.

When is it used?

• Small and medium-sized cavities
• Chipped or worn tooth edges
• Replacing old amalgam fillings
• Closing gaps and reshaping front teeth (bonding)

For teeth that have lost a great deal of structure, a porcelain inlay or crown lasts longer than a filling; your dentist will say so at the examination.

How is it done?

The tooth is numbed, the decay is removed and the surface is prepared so the filling can bond. A composite shade matching the tooth is chosen, placed in small layers and cured. Finally the bite is checked and the filling is polished. You can eat as soon as the filling has set.

After the filling

Avoid biting your cheek or tongue until the numbness wears off. Deep fillings may be sensitive to cold for a few days. If the filling feels high when you bite, a short adjustment visit is all that is needed.

How long does it last?

With good care, composite fillings last seven to ten years and often longer. Night-time grinding and biting ice or hard shells shorten their life. Six-monthly check-ups monitor the edges of the filling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Medically reviewed by

Prof. Dr. İlknur ÖZCANRestorative Dentistry