Fillings

Regular visits to the dentist will help detect any decays and stop them from progressing, causing further damage on your teeth. When having  a dental check-up, the dentist examines your teeth and gums thoroughly, looking for any gum disease, signs of decay or cracks on your teeth. The aim of restoring a decayed tooth is to repair it and bring it back to its previous shape and function and protect it from further damage.

What is decay?
Dental caries, known as decay, is a bacterial disease that affects the surface of the tooth. Every day we consume food and drinks that contain sugar, either from natural sources such as fruit and carbohydrates , or processed from sweets and fizzy drinks. When consuming food high in sugar, the food together with bacteria in our mouth create a sticky layer over our teeth, called plaque. Acids are being formed, “attacking” and dissolving the surface of the tooth.

Decay can sometimes be visible as black spots or holes (dental cavity) and other times the dentist will describe them as “sticky” white spots. Either way it is important to treat decay at an early stage.

Why is it important to treat decay at an early stage?
If a decay is left untreated, there is a high risk it will progress and grow. It can grow in width and affect the neighbouring teeth or it can grow in depth and cause pain and infection. By leaving a decay it will only require more extensive treatment, such as a root canal or even tooth loss.

What kind of fillings are available at Bell Yard Dental?
At Bell Yard Dental we offer a wide range of fillings. Having a filling is a pain free process and usually it requires 1-2 visits.

Composite
A composite filling is made of a mixture of resin, a combination of plastics and glass. Once the decay has been removed and the area cleaned by the dentist, the composite is “glued”on the surface. It is formed to bring the tooth back to its previous shape. Since composite is tooth-coloured material, it brings a more aesthetic result. The advantages with composite fillings is that there is a wide range of shade choices making it easier to match the rest of your teeth and also because it is adhesive to your tooth, less tooth tissue removal is needed. 

Composite is not only being used for fillings but also to : 

  • reshape one or several teeth,
  • close a gap
  • repair chip or crack
  • rebuild teeth that have been worn down

Amalgam
At Bell Yard Dental we offer amalgam fillings, although it has become less popular due to it containing mercury. It is a strong material and it can last for many years but due to its poor aesthetics it is usually solely used on posterior teeth.

Ceramic
These fillings are custom-made restorations fabricated by a dental technician and made of ceramic. You can either have an inlay or onlay depending on the size and place of the decay. The difference between an inlay and an onlay is that an inlay is placed inside the cavity of your tooth while an onlay replaces one or more cusps of your tooth. Ceramic restorations are of higher cost and are mainly used to treat larger cavities. 

How can I avoid getting tooth decay?

  1. Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily .
  2. Limit your intake of sugary and acidic food and drinks.
  3. Have regular check ups and hygiene to detect decay at an early stage.

Experiencing pain from a tooth? Did a filling break and need a filling replacement urgently? 

Contact us on 0207 831 1002 book your appointment online.

Nervous visiting the dentist? Do you suffer from dental phobia?
We understand that visiting the dentist can be a source of anxiety or fear for some individuals, and we want to assure you that you’re not alone in feeling this way. We are here to support you every step of the way and make your dental experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Before your appointment, please let us know about any worries or fears you may have so that we can tailor our approach to meet your needs. Our friendly and experienced team is here to help you.