Dental Fillings
Dental Fillings – Southern Highlands, Moss Vale,
Bowral & Mittagong
Prevent Tooth Decay
Are toothaches impacting your daily life?
Ever since we were young, we have been taught the importance of good oral hygiene and the benefits of maintaining a regular dental check-up. However, cavities are still one of the most common dental problems that is caused by poor hygiene habits.
The team at Pain Free Dental Clinic in Moss Vale provides efficient dental fillings to restore the health of your natural teeth and prevent decay. We proudly service patients across Moss Vale, Bowral, and Mittagong.
What is a cavity?
A cavity is a hole in the tooth caused by decay and softening of the enamel. Poor oral hygiene allows bacteria to build up, eventually leading to toothacheand pain when chewing.
If left untreated, cavities can worsen and may require more advanced treatments such as tooth extraction or even root canal treatment.
Neglecting cavities can also contribute to broader oral issues, including gum disease and long-term damage to surrounding teeth.
What causes a cavity?
Cavities are primarily caused by poor oral hygiene and diet. Sugary and starchy foods stick to teeth, allowing bacteria to produce acids that break down enamel over time.
Improper brushing techniques can accelerate this process—learn the correct method in our guide on brushing round-and-round.
Other contributing factors include:
- Irregular dental visits
- Low fluoride intake (Is fluoride safe?)
- Gum health issues
What is a filling?
A filling is a dental treatment that fills in the pit a cavity has left in the tooth. This will prevent further decay, as well as restore the shape and health of the affected tooth. By filling in the cavity, it will also alleviate any pain and discomfort.
Dental fillings were used by dentists as early as the 1800s. Since then, dental technology has come a long way with silver, acrylic, glass ionomer and gold fillings available. Acrylic fillings are one of the most common materials used as they are durable and are virtually undetectable on your natural tooth. Gold fillings are less common as they are more expensive and will require to be custom-made.
Modern fillings are often paired with other restorative options such as dental crowns or dental crown & bridge treatments when decay is more advanced.
Your dentist will examine your tooth and recommend the best option for your dental needs. If a tooth cannot be saved with a filling, alternatives such as dental implants or dental bridges may be recommended.
What happens during a dental filling?
Dental fillings used to be just as painful, if not more, than the pain inflicted by the cavity itself. Thanks to pain-free dentistry techniques and modern anaesthesia, dental fillings are now a quick and comfortable procedure.
Most fillings take just 20–40 minutes, with minimal discomfort. For anxious patients, we also offer nitrous oxide (happy gas) and gentle care techniques to ensure a relaxed experience. The areas impacted by decay will be drilled out, and the filling will be inserted. After treatment, maintaining excellent oral hygiene including routine teeth scaling and cleaning helps prolong the life of your filling.
At Pain Free Dental Clinic, we live up to our name by providing our patients a variety of methods that will reduce pain as much as possible. We can also provide sedation dentistry to help you relax during your procedure.
Don’t let your small cavity grow into bigger problems. Contact our friendly team to book an appointment for your next dental check-up! Learn how long fillings typically last in our guide: How long do fillings last?