Decay & Dental Fillings

A typical filling starts from $195 and goes up to $350 depending on the complexity.

If they are to increase the height of the tooth or improve the appearance (composite veneer) these can be more as they are much more complicated than just recreating what you currently have.

The good thing about white fillings is that they are bonded to your tooth, which means we can save tooth structure and don't have to cut mechanical retention into your tooth. They also have less risk of causing fracture than silver fillings.

The main advantage is that they do not contain mercury which is better for your health and better for the environment.

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. How long white fillings last depends on a few things: How big the filling is (more accurately how much good tooth structure you have left supporting it), your bite, whether you grind or clench, and, most importantly, if you address the underlying reasons for decay. The join between your tooth and the filling needs to be kept as clean as possible so bacteria can't build up here. We recommend regular check-ups so we can check these margins for more decay getting under the filling, as, over time, the bond breaks down.

The statistical average is 7 years - lets work together to beat the statistics by addressing those underlying reasons for failure.

The answer is - it depends! We will assess your case and give you our recommendation. Sometimes less treatment is better - we do not recommend a blanket rule of replacing all amalgams like some dentists.

Most people are concerned about the mercury content. However, during the setting, the mercury actually gets attached to the other metals and thus becomes inert. There have been many studies done which show the exposure is extremely minimal and even with every tooth filled with amalgam, the mercury released is well below toxic. The times when mercury exposure is highest is actually during placement of the filling, and during removal (due to the heat generated by the drill). Thus, we don't generally recommend filling removal simply because it is a silver filling. If you are concerned, please mention this and we will explain what measures we can take to reduce this, such as using a rubber dam, maximising water to cool the drill, and using the high speed evacuator.

We may recommend replacement if we see cracks around it. Why does amalgam stress your tooth? A few reasons. Firstly, amalgam doesn't bond to the tooth. Therefore, to make it stay in we actually have to cut mechanical retention into your tooth which is more destructive to your tooth structure. The tooth preparation has angles which puts stress at certain points of the tooth rather than distributing the force. Lastly, amalgam expands and shrinks in heat and cold differently to your tooth, which over time, can create cracks in the tooth.