Fillings, crowns and restorations

What it involves

This covers repairing teeth that are chipped, worn, or affected by decay, most often with tooth-coloured filling material bonded directly to the tooth. For teeth with more extensive damage, a crown may be recommended instead, which covers and protects the whole visible part of the tooth.

A filling involves removing the affected part of the tooth, cleaning the area, and building the shape back up with a composite resin material matched to your natural tooth colour. A crown is made after the tooth is shaped, either from an impression sent to a dental laboratory or, where equipment allows, milled on site.

When it’s recommended

A filling is generally recommended when decay or a chip has damaged part of a tooth but enough healthy structure remains to support a repair. A crown is more often suggested when a tooth has had a large filling, a root canal, a significant fracture, or heavy wear that a filling alone would not adequately protect.

Not every mark on a tooth needs treatment straight away — some early changes are monitored rather than treated immediately. Your dentist will explain the reasoning and the timeframe if watching is the recommended option.

What to expect on the day

Fillings are usually completed in one visit of around 45 to 60 minutes, under local anaesthetic if the area needs it. You will be numb in that part of your mouth for one to a few hours afterwards.

A crown typically needs two appointments: the first to shape the tooth and take an impression or scan, with a temporary crown fitted in the meantime; the second, generally one to three weeks later, to fit and cement the finished crown and check your bite.

Aftercare

It is common to have some sensitivity to hot, cold or pressure for a few days after a filling, which usually settles. Avoid chewing on the numb side until the anaesthetic has fully worn off, to prevent accidentally biting your cheek or tongue.

With a temporary crown, avoid sticky or very chewy foods and chew on the other side where possible, since temporaries are more easily dislodged. Once the final crown is fitted, treat it like a natural tooth — brushing and flossing around it as usual, with particular attention where it meets the gum.

Fees

Tooth-coloured fillings and porcelain crowns are quoted from our sample fee schedule below. The exact fee depends on the tooth, the number of surfaces involved, and what the examination finds. See our sample fees for common treatments.

Questions people ask

Will the filling match my tooth colour?

Composite filling material is shade-matched to your surrounding teeth before we start, so the repair blends in rather than standing out.

How long does a filling last?

It depends on the size of the filling, the tooth's location and how it is used and cared for. We check existing fillings at your regular visits and let you know if one needs attention.

Do I need a crown or would a filling do?

This depends on how much healthy tooth structure remains and the forces the tooth will need to withstand. We will explain our recommendation and the alternative, if there is a reasonable one, before you decide.

What happens if I lose or damage a temporary crown?

Call us as soon as you can. A loose or missing temporary should be dealt with promptly so the prepared tooth stays protected and does not shift before the final crown is fitted.