Dental fillings in Northampton

If you’re wondering whether you need a dental filling, inlay, or onlay, let’s break it down…

• Dental fillings in Northampton: The quick fix for cavities – If you have a small tooth cavity, then a filling is your best friend. It can plug the hole, prevent further decay and restore and protect the tooth. Fillings can be made from silver amalgam or composite tooth-coloured resin for a seamless look.
• Inlays and onlays: The heavy-duty protectors – Sometimes cavities get a little too ambitious and create holes that are too large for conventional fillings to plug. This is where inlays and onlays can help. Inlays fit snugly inside the tooth’s cusp (the raised part). Onlays cover part of the tooth, acting as a partial crown. Unlike conventional fillings, which are mixed by the dentist and then applied, inlays and onlays are typically custom-fabricated or milled from durable porcelain, making them stronger than standard tooth fillings.

Don’t worry if it isn’t clear what type of filling you need, we’ll walk you through your options when you visit.

Cavities form when acids from plaque weaken the enamel, creating holes. Dental fillings seal those holes, stopping further damage while protecting your tooth.

Originally, silver amalgam was preferred due to its strength, but white fillings have now improved to a point where they’re equally as strong. The only real difference is that white fillings blend in naturally for a better aesthetic.

No. When it comes to getting a dental filling here in Northampton, our dentists are highly trained in gentle dentistry. We use a light anaesthetic to keep you comfortable, so most patients don’t feel any discomfort during the process and very little (if any) after.

A standard filling takes around 20 minutes, but larger cavities requiring inlays or onlays can take longer, sometimes spread over several appointments.