What is a dental filling?
A dental filling is a restoration that repairs a tooth that has been worn, decayed or damaged so the tooth can look and work again. Healthdirect explains that a filling can fix a cavity caused by decay or trauma, and helps protect the tooth from further damage (healthdirect). The Australian Dental Association describes fillings as replacing natural tooth that has been fractured, broken or damaged (teeth.org.au).
This page is a plain walkthrough of a routine, planned filling visit — the elective appointment many people have after a check-up finds a cavity or a small chip. It is general information only, not a personal diagnosis or a guide to a filling that has already fallen out.
Why are fillings done?
Fillings restore tooth structure that decay, fracture or wear has removed. Better Health Channel notes that fillings repair worn, decayed or damaged teeth and may be needed to maintain tooth structure (Better Health Channel). Healthdirect likewise says a filling helps your tooth look and work again (healthdirect).
Your dentist chooses a filling material after looking at where the tooth sits, how you bite, and the size of the repair. Australian sources describe several material families — for example tooth-coloured options and, less often today, amalgam — each with benefits and limits (teeth.org.au). This page does not recommend a brand. Your dentist at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake will discuss options, benefits, risks and alternatives that fit your tooth.
Prevention still matters: fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between teeth, limiting sugary snacks between meals, and regular check-ups. A scale and clean visit is about plaque and tartar; it complements restorative care rather than replacing it.
What usually happens at a routine filling visit?
Steps vary with the tooth and the size of the repair. Better Health Channel summarises the core steps: numb the tooth first if needed, remove the decay, clean and dry the area, then place the filling material (Better Health Channel). A typical elective filling at AMK Dental Clinic often follows this sequence:
- Update and consent — history, medicines and concerns; your dentist explains the plan, benefits, risks and alternatives
- Numbness if used — local anaesthetic may be given; not every small repair needs it
- Isolate the area — cotton rolls or a saliva barrier may keep the tooth dry
- Remove the decayed or broken bit — damaged structure is cleared until sound tooth remains
- Place the filling — the cavity is cleaned and dried, then filled
- Shape and polish — the surface is contoured to fit neighbouring teeth
- Bite check — you close on thin paper so high spots can be adjusted before you leave
How long numbness lasts afterward varies. Avoid chewing on the numb side until feeling returns, so you do not accidentally bite your lip or tongue.
What might you notice during and after the visit?
During treatment you may feel pressure, vibration or cool water, and hear dental equipment. With local anaesthetic, sharp sensation in the tooth is usually reduced, but pressure and sound can still be noticeable. Tell your dentist if anything is uncomfortable — the team can pause or adjust.
Afterward, short-term sensitivity is common. The Australian Dental Association calls temporary sensitivity to hot, cold or biting post-operative sensitivity, and notes it usually goes away after a few days and can sometimes last one or two weeks (teeth.org.au). Healthdirect lists sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold foods, or when you bite (healthdirect).
Practical tips while things settle:
- Chew on the other side for the first day if the tooth feels tender
- Prefer lukewarm drinks over very hot or icy ones at first
- Keep brushing with a soft-bristled brush around the new filling
- Avoid very hard or sticky foods on that tooth until sensitivity eases
- If the bite feels high when you close, note when it happens and call
Results vary between people and teeth. Fillings do not last forever; restorations can chip, wear or change colour over time (teeth.org.au; healthdirect). Regular check-ups help catch wear early.
When should you call if something feels off?
Most short-term sensitivity settles. Contact AMK Dental Clinic sooner if sensitivity lasts beyond about one to two weeks or gets worse; if you have ongoing pain, gum or facial swelling, or a bad taste that worries you; if the bite feels uneven and does not settle; or if a rough edge scrapes your tongue or cheek, or the filling feels loose.
If a filling has already come out, follow what to do if a filling comes out rather than this routine-visit guide. For severe facial swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, seek emergency medical care — call 000. Urgent first-aid framing lives in what to do in a dental emergency; use it only as a complement, not a retelling of a planned filling.
How do you book a filling visit at AMK Dental Clinic?
AMK Dental Clinic is a family and cosmetic dental practice in Mortlake, in Sydney’s Inner West. For a routine filling after a check-up, or a review if something feels off afterward, phone (02) 9739 6525, use the contact page, or see how to book an appointment at AMK. The clinic is at Shop 3, 46 Tennyson Road, Mortlake NSW 2137. See opening hours on the Contact page. Your dentist will discuss whether a filling is suitable for you, and the benefits, risks and alternatives, at your visit.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Please speak with a dentist about your needs.
Common questions
Why might I need a dental filling?
You may need a filling when part of a tooth is worn, decayed or damaged. Healthdirect notes that a filling can fix a cavity from decay or trauma and help protect the tooth from further damage. The Australian Dental Association explains that fillings replace natural tooth that has been fractured, broken or damaged. Your dentist at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake will explain whether a filling is suitable after examining your mouth.
Will I need local anaesthetic for a filling?
Often, yes — especially when decay is removed from a living tooth — but not every filling needs it. Better Health Channel notes that if needed, the tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic first. How numb you feel and for how long varies between people and teeth. Tell your dentist at AMK Dental Clinic if anything is uncomfortable during the visit, or if numbness lasts longer than you were advised afterward.
Is short-term sensitivity after a filling normal?
Yes, for many people. The Australian Dental Association calls temporary sensitivity to hot, cold or biting post-operative sensitivity, and notes it usually settles over a few days and sometimes lasts one or two weeks. Healthdirect also lists sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold food or when biting. If sensitivity does not settle or gets worse, return to your dentist. AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake can review the bite and the restoration.
How is this different from a filling that has already come out?
This page is a calm walkthrough of a planned, routine filling visit. If a filling has already fallen out or broken, follow what to do if a filling comes out instead — rinse, chew on the other side, avoid DIY glue, and book a review. A scale and clean is a different appointment about plaque and tartar. Use those posts only as complements; they do not replace an examination at AMK Dental Clinic in Mortlake.
When should I call AMK Dental Clinic after a filling?
Call if sensitivity lasts beyond about one to two weeks, gets worse, or if you have ongoing pain, swelling, a high bite that does not settle, a rough edge that cuts the tongue or cheek, or a filling that feels loose. For severe facial swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, seek emergency medical care (call 000). Otherwise phone AMK Dental Clinic on (02) 9739 6525, use Contact, or see how to book an appointment at AMK.