Clinical review: Dr. Samreen Ejaz, BDS, RDS ·
The root canal doesn’t rebuild the tooth
Cleaning the canals deals with the infection inside. It doesn’t fix the hole on top or the part of the tooth that decay has eaten away. Once the canals are sealed, composite can close the opening and rebuild what’s been lost. If a lot of the tooth is gone, though, a filling on its own may not be strong enough.
Is composite right for your tooth?
Dr. Samreen looks at where the tooth sits in your mouth, how many walls are left, any cracks, and how you bite. The tooth also has to be kept dry while the filling is bonded, which is harder in some spots. We’ll tell you whether the composite is the final repair or a core that a crown will later go over.
Placing the filling
The composite is bonded to the tooth, then shaped and polished. On a back tooth we check how it meets the teeth next to it and how you chew on it. On a front tooth we’ll also talk about shade and shape. If you had a temporary filling between visits, we take it out at this appointment.
Afterwards
Go easy on the tooth if it’s still waiting for a crown. Once it’s restored, brush and clean carefully along the edges of the filling and come for check-ups. Tell us if the tooth feels high when you bite, a piece breaks off or you notice a crack. If the tooth keeps aching, get it checked even if the filling looks fine.
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Questions about root canal treatment with composite restoration
Can a composite filling save me from needing a crown?
Sometimes. If enough strong tooth is left and your bite isn’t too heavy on it, a filling can be enough. If not, we’ll recommend a crown.
Will the filling match my tooth colour?
We’ll choose a shade close to your tooth, but we can’t promise an exact match. The filling also has to seal the tooth well and stand up to chewing.
How many visits will it take?
Usually one or two for the root canal, and the composite is often placed at the last one. We’ll confirm once we’ve seen the tooth.
This is general information. What’s right for your tooth depends on what Dr. Samreen finds when she examines it.
Background reading: ADA: tooth-coloured fillings. These are overseas sources, so their prices and rules don’t apply here.