Decay does not stop on its own. Once bacteria have opened a path through enamel, they keep going, and the difference between a filling and a root canal is usually just how long the tooth was left. A filling done early is 40 minutes and one appointment. The same tooth two years later can be a crown, or gone.

At Midpark Dental we place tooth-coloured composite fillings in a single visit, shade-matched so you cannot pick them out in a mirror.

A filling replaces the part of the tooth that decay destroyed and seals the opening so bacteria cannot get back in. That is the whole job, and it is worth being precise about, because two things are commonly misunderstood.

A filling does not regrow enamel. Enamel does not regenerate, and the material is a replacement for lost structure, not a restoration of the original tissue.

A filling does not make a tooth stronger than it was before the cavity. Removing decay means removing tooth structure, and a filled tooth is always a repaired tooth. What a filling does is stop the loss and protect what remains, which is why catching a cavity small matters so much. A small filling leaves most of the tooth intact. A large one does not, and a heavily filled tooth eventually needs a crown to hold it together.

That is the honest version, and it is a better argument for coming in early than the alternative.

• A brown, grey, or black spot on a tooth
• A visible hole or pit you can feel with your tongue
• Sensitivity to cold, heat, or sweet things
• An ache that comes and goes
• Floss that shreds or catches in the same spot every time
• A chipped or fractured edge
• Food packing into the same gap after meals

One correction to something you may have read elsewhere: the colour of a spot does not tell you how deep the decay goes. Dark decay is often old and slow, sometimes even arrested. Pale, soft decay can be advancing quickly, which is the pattern we see most often in children. That is precisely why we take an X-ray of the tooth when the examination suggests one is needed, rather than judging by appearance.

And many cavities produce no symptoms at all until they reach the nerve. The ones we catch at a routine checkup are the cheap ones.

Midpark Dental places tooth-coloured composite resin. Here is the reasoning, including the trade-offs.

Composite bonds to the tooth. That is the main advantage and it is a structural one, not a cosmetic one. Because the material adheres to the remaining tooth, the cavity preparation can be more conservative. Amalgam has to be held in mechanically, which means cutting a shape that grips, which means removing sound tooth structure that did not need to go.

It is colour-matched. We shade it against the tooth next to it. On front teeth this is the difference between a repair nobody notices and one everybody does.

It is done in one visit. The material is placed and hardened in the chair.

The trade-offs, stated plainly: composite is more technique-sensitive than amalgam and takes longer to place properly. It can pick up stain over many years, particularly in coffee and red wine drinkers and in smokers.

On very large restorations in back teeth under heavy grinding forces, a crown or an onlay is the better answer, and we will tell you when that is the case rather than placing a filling we expect to fail.

Several types of dental fillings are available in the market. Teeth can be filled with gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, glass, composite resin, or a hybrid composition of several materials. Factors such as the tooth of concern, the extent of decay, cost, and even insurance coverage determine the type of filling material that best suits you.

• Gold fillings – gold is considered the best filling material in terms of strength and long-term reliability. It is also most well-tolerated by your gums, so you can expect no allergic reactions. However, the colour makes it look unnatural and they can be expensive.
• Silver fillings – these are an inexpensive option and are resistant to wear. However, the dark colour makes it unsuitable for a natural restoration. It can also eventually discolour the gums and make them look grayish.
• Composite resin – this is an affordable option that can create a beautiful restoration. Your dentist can colour-match the material for a desirable appearance. The procedure also involves a quick and easy repair that can be completed in one visit. However, composite resin may stain and wear down over time, so they do not offer a long-term repair.
• Porcelain fillings – porcelain is a highly esthetic and wear-resistant material. With good care, they can last up to 15 years. Also, because of their lifelike finish, you can achieve the most natural-looking smile. However, this can come at a higher cost.

With several options available for dental fillings, a proper smile consultation is crucial. This can help your dentist understand your goals and expectations in the treatment and provide you with a suitable treatment plan.

This is the question we get most, and the honest answer has a range in it.

A well-placed composite filling in a back tooth typically lasts around ten years, and many last considerably longer. Fillings in front teeth, which take far less force, often last longer still. Small fillings outlast large ones by a wide margin.

What actually determines the number is not the material. It is:

• How big the filling is. A small one in sound tooth structure has far better odds than a large one replacing most of the crown.
• Whether you grind. Grinding wears and fractures restorations faster than anything else, and it is the most common reason a filling fails early. A night guard changes this.
• Your decay risk. New decay at the margin of an old filling is the usual reason for replacement, not the filling wearing out. Home care and diet drive this.
• Where it is. Molars take roughly 100 kilograms of force. Front teeth do not.

Fillings are not permanent, and no dentist can honestly promise you one that is. What we can do is place it well, tell you what will shorten its life, and catch the failure at a checkup instead of at 10:00 pm when the tooth splits.

Midpark Dental charges the Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide, which publishes a standard fee for every procedure code in the province. You can look up the code and compare us against any clinic in Alberta.

The fee for a filling depends on two things: how many surfaces of the tooth are involved, and whether it is a front or back tooth. A single-surface filling is the smallest code; a filling wrapping three or four surfaces of a molar costs more because it is a substantially bigger procedure. We give you the code and the total before we begin.

This is the practical argument for not waiting. The same tooth caught early is a one-surface filling. Left a year, it is a three-surface filling. Left longer, it is a root canal and a crown, which is an order of magnitude more.

We bill insurance directly and we accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which covers fillings for eligible patients.

How long do dental fillings last?

A composite filling in a back tooth typically lasts around ten years, and many last longer. Front teeth often last longer still because they take less force. Size matters more than material: small fillings substantially outlast large ones. Grinding and new decay at the margin are the two most common reasons a filling fails early.

How much does a filling cost in Calgary?

Midpark Dental charges the Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide. The fee depends on how many surfaces of the tooth are involved and whether it is a front or back tooth. We give you the exact code and total before treatment. We bill insurance directly and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Does getting a filling hurt?

The freezing is the only part most people notice, and we wait until the tooth is fully numb before starting. Small, shallow fillings can sometimes be done without freezing. Tell us if you feel anything at any point.

How long does a filling take?

Most take 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish, in a single appointment.

Can I eat after a filling?

Yes. Composite is fully hardened before you leave. Wait until the freezing wears off so you do not bite your cheek or tongue.

Are white fillings as strong as silver ones?

For the great majority of cavities, yes. Composite bonds to the tooth, which lets us remove less healthy structure during preparation. For very large restorations in back teeth under heavy grinding forces, a crown or onlay is a better answer than any filling.

Do I need to replace my old silver fillings?

Not if they are intact, sealed, and causing no problems. Health Canada considers amalgam safe for the general population. We replace amalgam when it has fractured, when decay has started underneath, when the tooth is cracking around it, or when you want the appearance changed.

Why does my tooth feel sensitive after a filling?

Some sensitivity to cold for a few days to a couple of weeks is normal, particularly after a deep filling. Call us if it is getting worse rather than better, if it lingers after the cold is gone, or if the tooth feels high when you bite. A high filling is a quick adjustment and will not settle on its own.

Can a cavity be treated without a filling?

Sometimes. Decay caught at the white-spot stage, before the enamel surface breaks, can often be arrested and remineralized with fluoride and changes to home care. Once the surface has broken, it cannot be reversed and it needs a filling.

Midpark Dental, 201-239 Midpark Way SE. Open until 8:30 pm Monday to Thursday. New patients welcome, insurance billed directly, CDCP accepted. Call (403) 201-7999.