Home / Services / Tooth-Coloured Fillings

Tooth coloured and porcelain fillings in Kallangur

Tooth-Coloured and Porcelain
Fillings Kallangur

Natural-looking tooth-coloured fillings for stronger teeth

Tooth-coloured fillings repair a tooth that has a cavity, a chip or a small crack without the grey shadow of an old metal filling. At Kallangur Dental Surgery we place tooth-coloured composite fillings in the chair and have porcelain inlays and onlays made for larger repairs, so the finished tooth looks natural and is strong enough to chew on.

Composite resin shaded to match your own tooth
Porcelain inlays and onlays when a bigger repair needs more strength

Book an Appointment (07) 3886 0933

New patients welcome

New to Kallangur Dental?

Book our new patient offer today to receive:

Comprehensive oral examination
Removal of calculus - first appointment
2 bitewing X-rays (if required)
Topical remineralisation (fluoride)
Oral cancer screening
Treatment planning

Book New Patient Offer (07) 3886 0933

*Terms, conditions and item codes apply. Please contact us for full details.

$199 Check-Up, Clean and X-Rays Select “New Patient Offer” when booking.

Accredited & compliant

A porcelain onlay, composite filling syringes and a shade guide laid out beside a stone model of back teeth

Your options

Composite fillings or porcelain: which dental filling suits your tooth?

A dental filling replaces the part of a tooth lost to decay or damage, seals the cavity so bacteria cannot get back in, and restores the shape you bite with. The question is which material does that job for your particular tooth.

Direct composite fillings. Composite resin is a tooth-coloured material placed straight into the prepared cavity, shaped while soft and hardened with a curing light, all in one visit. It bonds to the tooth, so less healthy tooth needs to be drilled away, and it suits most small and medium cavities in both front and back teeth.

Indirect porcelain fillings. When a cavity is too large for composite but the tooth does not need a full crown, we can take a scan or impression and have a porcelain inlay or onlay made in a dental laboratory. Dental porcelain is translucent like enamel, resists staining and, once bonded in place, reinforces a weakened tooth. At Kallangur Dental Surgery you have a say in which material you prefer, and your dentist will run through the benefits and drawbacks of each.

A Kallangur dentist showing a patient an old cracked silver filling on an intraoral camera photo

Replacing amalgam

Tooth coloured fillings instead of old silver ones

Amalgam, the silver-grey mercury alloy, was the standard filling material for well over a century because it is durable, inexpensive and easy to place. Many adults in Kallangur and the Moreton Bay suburbs still have a few. With more attention on appearance, a growing number of patients now choose tooth-coloured fillings instead.

Amalgam replacement is not always needed. An intact amalgam filling with no decay around it can be left alone. We usually suggest replacing one when it has cracked, when decay has started around its edges, when the tooth beside it is fracturing, or when you would simply like a more natural smile. We will look at each filling at your check-up and tell you honestly whether it is worth replacing now, later or not at all.

How it works

The dental cavity filling procedure, step by step

Most composite fillings take between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the size of the cavity and where it is. This is what happens in the chair:

Illustration of decay being removed from a tooth before a filling

Numbing and removing decay

A local anaesthetic numbs the tooth and surrounding gum, so you should feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Once it has taken effect, we remove the softened, decayed part of the tooth and any old or broken filling material.

Illustration of a cleaned cavity prepared for a tooth-coloured filling

Shaping and preparing

The cavity is cleaned, shaped and kept dry. For a composite filling we treat the surface with a gentle etch and bonding agent, which is what lets the tooth-coloured material grip the enamel and dentine.

Illustration of tooth-coloured composite being layered into a cavity

Placing the tooth-coloured filling

Composite is added in thin layers, each set hard with a blue curing light, and sculpted to rebuild the grooves and contact points of the tooth. For a porcelain inlay or onlay, a temporary filling protects the tooth until the laboratory piece is ready to bond in.

Illustration of a finished tooth-coloured filling being polished smooth

Checking the bite and polishing

We check how your teeth meet, adjust any high spots so the bite feels normal, and polish the filling until it is smooth to your tongue and blends with the surrounding tooth.

A patient tapping a health fund card on the terminal at the front desk to claim her rebate on the spot

Cost and timing

How much is a filling at the dentist in Kallangur?

The cost of a filling depends on how many surfaces of the tooth are involved, where the tooth sits in your mouth and whether it is a direct composite or a laboratory-made porcelain inlay or onlay. A small one-surface composite costs less than a large multi-surface repair, and porcelain restorations cost more again. We examine the tooth first and give you a written estimate before any work starts.

A single small filling can usually be done on the day we find it. Several fillings, or a porcelain inlay or onlay, are spread over two appointments. General dental on most extras policies covers fillings, and your rebate is claimed on the spot through HICAPS. Interest-free payment plans are available for larger treatment plans.

Looking after your new fillings: brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss or use interdental brushes once a day, go easy on very hard foods such as ice and boiled lollies, and wear a mouthguard for contact sport or a night splint if you grind. Regular check-ups let us spot a worn edge early, before decay can creep underneath.

Related care

When a filling is not enough

If a tooth is badly broken or the decay runs deep, one of these treatments may protect it better. We will explain the options at your appointment.

Check-up and clean

Six-monthly check-ups find cavities while they are small enough for a simple tooth-coloured filling.

Learn more

Same-day crowns

When too much of the tooth is missing for a filling or onlay, a crown covers and protects what is left.

Learn more

Root canal treatment

Decay that has reached the nerve needs the inside of the tooth cleaned and sealed before it is rebuilt.

Learn more

Emergency dentist

Lost a filling, cracked a tooth or in pain? Call first thing and we will fit you in as soon as we can.

Learn more

Good to know

Tooth-Coloured Fillings - frequently asked

How much is a filling at the dentist?

It depends on the size of the filling, the number of tooth surfaces involved and the material. Porcelain inlays and onlays cost more than direct composite because they are made in a laboratory. We can give a price range over the phone, and we give you a written estimate after examining the tooth, and your health fund rebate is processed on the spot.

Are tooth-coloured fillings as strong as amalgam?

Modern composite materials are much tougher than earlier versions and are now used in back teeth as well as front teeth. Amalgam can still last a little longer in very large fillings on heavily loaded molars, which is where a porcelain onlay is often the stronger choice. Your dentist will recommend the material that suits the size and position of the cavity.

Should I replace my old silver fillings?

Not automatically. A sound amalgam filling with no decay around it can stay. Replacement makes sense if the filling is cracked or leaking, if the tooth around it is breaking, or if you would prefer a tooth-coloured result. We will check each one and advise you.

How long do tooth-coloured fillings last?

Composite fillings commonly last many years, and porcelain inlays and onlays often last longer, but lifespan varies with the filling's size, your bite, grinding habits and how well the area is cleaned. Regular check-ups let us repair or replace a worn filling before it fails. Individual results vary.

Does getting a filling hurt?

The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic first, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. The tooth may be a little sensitive to hot and cold for a few days afterwards. If you are anxious, tell us when you book and we will take extra time.

When do I need an inlay or onlay instead of a filling?

An inlay or onlay is usually suggested when a cavity is too wide for a direct filling to be reliable, or when a cusp of the tooth is weak or broken, but the tooth does not yet need a full crown. It keeps more natural tooth than a crown while giving more support than a large filling.

Can children have tooth-coloured fillings?

Yes. Tooth-coloured fillings are commonly used for children's baby and adult teeth. For eligible children, fillings can be covered under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, and fissure sealants can help protect the grooves of new molars from decay in the first place.

Can I eat after a filling?

A composite filling is fully set before you leave, but wait until the numbness wears off before eating so you do not bite your cheek or burn your mouth. Stick to softer foods for the rest of the day if the tooth feels tender.

We Are Preferred Providers For