My Family Dental Dental Fillings in Townsville
Tooth-coloured, done in one appointment, at our Townsville clinic
Tooth-coloured
Bonded composite, not amalgam
Mercury-free
Amalgam removal and replacement
One appointment
Set hard before you leave
CDBS bulk billed
Fillings covered for eligible children
A filling is the smallest, cheapest and least eventful piece of dentistry there is, and it only stays that way if the hole is found early. At Kirwan that is most of what a check-up is quietly for.
Tooth-Coloured, and Why That Is Not Just Cosmetic
We use composite, a tooth-coloured material bonded chemically to the tooth. That bond does actual work: an amalgam filling has to be held in mechanically, which means cutting undercuts into healthy tooth to lock it in. A bonded filling does not, so less sound tooth is removed to place it.
It sets hard in the appointment, so once the numbness wears off you can eat normally. And it does not show.
Old Silver Fillings
This clinic works mercury-free, and we remove amalgam and replace it with composite.
Here is the part worth being straight about. An old amalgam filling that is intact, sealed and causing no trouble does not have to come out. Replacing any filling means removing more tooth than you started with, so there should be a reason: decay creeping in underneath, a crack running from it, the filling breaking down at the edges, or the tooth becoming sensitive. Wanting them gone for appearance is a perfectly reasonable reason too, and we will do it. What we will not do is tell you that every silver filling is an emergency.
Why a Painless Hole Still Needs Filling
Decay is silent until it reaches the nerve. It does not start hurting when it becomes serious, it starts hurting when it becomes expensive, and at that point a filling is no longer the treatment. Root canal treatment or an extraction is.
This is also why x-rays get taken at check-ups. Decay between two teeth is completely invisible from the outside until it is large enough to see with the eye, by which point it usually is not a small filling any more.
When a Filling Is Not Enough
Each time a tooth is refilled a little more of it goes, and eventually there is not enough left for another filling to be safe. Then the honest answer is a crown, which holds the tooth together rather than wedging it apart.
For teeth caught earlier, silver diamine fluoride can sometimes arrest early decay without a drill, which is particularly useful for very young children and for anyone who cannot manage a long appointment.
Getting It Done in Kirwan
Both Townsville clinics do this work, so use whichever is closer to you, and the follow-up is at the same place.
What It Costs
The fee depends on the size of the filling and how many surfaces it covers, and you are told it before treatment starts. We claim health fund rebates through HICAPS at the desk, and eligible children are bulk billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which covers fillings. This clinic also accepts Queensland Health vouchers.
My Family Dental Townsville
2/81 Thuringowa Dr, Kirwan QLD 4817
(07) 4723 2090
Important: Post-operative sensitivity is common and usually temporary. The lifespan of a filling varies between individuals. Any dental treatment carries risks. Whether a filling is the right treatment can only be judged after an examination. Seek advice appropriate to your circumstances from a qualified health practitioner.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We use tooth-coloured composite, which is bonded to the tooth rather than wedged into it, so less healthy tooth has to be removed to hold it in place. It sets in the appointment, so you can eat normally afterwards once the numbness has worn off.
Yes, we remove amalgam and replace it with composite, and this clinic works mercury-free. Be clear about one thing though: an old amalgam filling that is sound and sealed does not have to come out. Replacing a filling means removing more tooth, so it is worth doing when there is a reason, such as decay underneath, a crack, or the filling breaking down, rather than simply because it is silver.
The tooth is numbed first, with topical gel before the injection. Small, shallow fillings sometimes do not need numbing at all. Sensitivity to cold for a few days afterwards is common and usually settles; sensitivity that is getting worse rather than better is worth a phone call.
Because decay does not hurt until it reaches the nerve, and by then the answer is no longer a filling. It is root canal treatment or an extraction. A small filling is cheap, quick and keeps most of your tooth. That is the entire argument for check-ups, and it is why we take x-rays: decay between teeth is invisible from the outside until it is large.
Ring us. It is not usually an emergency unless there is pain or a sharp edge cutting your tongue, but the exposed tooth decays quickly and the longer it is open the more likely the repair becomes a crown rather than another filling. Avoid chewing on that side and do not try to glue anything back yourself.
It depends on the size of the filling and how many surfaces of the tooth it covers. You are given the fee before treatment starts, and we claim any health fund rebate through HICAPS at the desk. Eligible children are bulk billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
Ready to Book Your Visit?
Book a visit at your nearest My Family Dental clinic: we’ll talk through your options and what it costs.