Repair Cavities Invisibly with
Composite Bonding.
Say goodbye to dark metal fillings. We use high-strength, tooth-colored materials to restore your tooth’s natural shape and function seamlessly.
Stopping Decay Before It Spreads
Dental decay, or cavities (caries), is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. It starts silently. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars from your diet and produce acid. This acid erodes the hard outer enamel of your tooth, creating a small hole. This process, known as demineralization, creates a pathway for bacteria to enter the inner, more vulnerable layers of the tooth.
Why Timing Matters: The “Golden Window”
In the early stages, a cavity usually doesn’t hurt. You might notice food getting stuck or a slight sensitivity to sweets. This is the “Golden Window” for treatment. If treated now with a simple filling, the tooth remains alive and strong. We simply remove the small area of decay and seal it.
If ignored, the decay burrows deeper into the softer dentin and eventually reaches the nerve (pulp). Once the nerve is infected, a simple filling is no longer an option. You will require Root Canal Treatment to save the tooth, or potentially extraction followed by a Dental Implant. A timely filling at Shova Dental Care saves you from pain, complex procedures, and higher costs down the road.
The Problem with Old “Silver” Fillings
For decades, dentists used silver amalgam (a mix of mercury, silver, tin, and copper). While strong, these fillings have significant drawbacks. They require removing a lot of healthy tooth structure to create a mechanical lock. Over time, metal expands and contracts with temperature changes (drinking hot tea or cold water), acting like a wedge that can eventually crack the tooth. We specialize in modern Composite Resin—a safe, aesthetic alternative that supports the tooth structure chemically.
Why We Use Composite Resin
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1Invisible Repair We layer different shades to mimic the translucency of your natural enamel. No one will know you have a filling.
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2Chemical Bonding Composite bonds to the tooth, acting like a super-glue that holds the walls of the tooth together, reinforcing the structure.
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3Conservative Prep Because it bonds directly, we strictly remove only the decayed part. We keep more of your healthy natural tooth compared to amalgam.
Prevention is Key
The best filling is no filling at all. Regular professional cleaning removes the plaque that causes cavities in the first place.
Book a CleaningUnderstanding Your Filling Options
Not all cavities are the same. We select the material that best suits the size of the cavity and the chewing force the tooth must withstand.
Direct Composite
This is the standard “white filling.” It is a putty-like resin placed directly into the cavity and hardened with light.
- Best For: Small to medium cavities.
- Time: Single visit (30-45 mins).
- Esthetics: Excellent.
Glass Ionomer (GIC)
A specialized filling that releases fluoride to help prevent further decay. It is not as strong as composite but is chemically beneficial.
- Best For: Children’s baby teeth, root surfaces, or temporary fillings.
- Time: Single visit.
- Benefit: Fluoride release.
Indirect Inlay/Onlay
When a cavity is too big for a filling but not big enough for a crown, we make a porcelain piece in the lab and cement it in place.
- Best For: Large molar cavities.
- Time: Two visits.
- Durability: Superior (lasts 15+ years).
The Restoration Procedure
A quick, comfortable process completed in a single visit using advanced isolation techniques.
1. Numbing & Removal
Comfort comes first. We apply a local anesthetic to numb the area completely. Then, using precise instruments, we gently remove only the decayed portion of the tooth. We often use a Caries Indicator Dye to ensure every speck of bacteria is gone while preserving healthy structure.
2. Etch & Bond
We treat the tooth surface with a mild gel to roughen it microscopically. This creates a surface for the bonding agent to grip. We then apply a medical-grade adhesive that acts as the “glue”. Crucial Step: We keep the tooth bone-dry during this phase using cotton rolls or a rubber dam, as even a drop of saliva can weaken the bond.
3. Layering & Sculpting
To prevent shrinkage stress, we don’t fill the hole all at once. The composite resin is applied in incremental layers. We carefully select a shade that matches your adjacent teeth. Each layer is hardened instantly using a high-intensity blue UV light. We sculpt the final layer to match the natural grooves of your bite.
4. Bite Check & Polish
We check your bite using colored articulating paper to ensure the filling isn’t “high” (which can cause pain). Finally, we polish the restoration to a glass-like shine using diamond polishing paste, making it feel smooth to your tongue and resistant to future staining from coffee or tea.
Signs You Need a Filling (vs. a Root Canal)
It can be hard to tell the difference between a simple cavity and a deep infection. Here is a quick guide:
Likely Just a Filling
- ✓ Sensitivity to sweets or cold that goes away quickly (seconds).
- ✓ Food gets stuck between specific teeth every time you eat.
- ✓ A visible dark spot or hole, but no constant throbbing pain.
- ✓ A rough edge you can feel with your tongue.
Possible Root Canal Needed
- ⚠ Severe throbbing pain that keeps you awake at night.
- ⚠ Pain when biting down that shoots into the jaw.
- ⚠ Swelling on the gums (a “pimple”) near the painful tooth.
- ⚠ Sensitivity to heat (like hot tea) that lingers for minutes.
Note: Only a dentist can diagnose the true extent of decay using X-rays.
Life After Your Filling
One of the biggest advantages of composite fillings is that they harden instantly under the curing light. You can eat almost immediately after leaving the clinic! However, if you were numb, we advise waiting until the anesthesia wears off so you don’t accidentally bite your cheek or tongue.
Managing Post-Op Sensitivity:
It is normal for a tooth to be sensitive to cold water for a few days to a week after a deep filling. This is the nerve reacting to the “trauma” of cleaning the decay. It usually resolves on its own.
The “High Bite” Phenomenon:
Your bite is sensitive to changes as small as a human hair. If your filling is even slightly too high, you will feel a sharp pain only when you bite down or chew. This will not go away on its own and can bruise the tooth ligament. Please call us for a quick 5-minute adjustment—it is a painless and simple fix.
How Long Do They Last?
Modern composite fillings are incredibly durable. With proper care (brushing, flossing, and not using your teeth as tools to open packages), they can last 7–10 years or more.
Why Shova Dental Care?
Not all fillings are created equal. The skill of the dentist determines the longevity and look of the restoration.
- ★ Premium Materials: We use top-tier composites from 3M (USA) and GC (Japan) containing nanoparticles for superior strength and polish.
- ★ Aesthetic Eye: Dr. Tamanna Yousuf Ali specializes in cosmetic bonding. We often mix 2-3 shades to match your tooth’s natural gradient.
- ★ Pediatric Care: We are experts in treating children. For baby teeth, we often use colorful sealants or gentle GIC fillings.
- ★ Warranty: We stand by our work. If a filling chips or falls out within a year due to material failure, we replace it for free.
“I chipped my front tooth and was so embarrassed. The team at Shova Dental fixed it in 30 minutes using composite bonding. You literally can’t tell where the chip was!”
– Nabil, Gulshan
Filling FAQs
Answers to your common concerns.
In most cases, yes. We must remove the soft, infected part of the tooth to prevent the bacteria from spreading. However, because composite bonds to the tooth chemically, we do significantly less drilling than was required for old-fashioned silver fillings, which needed deep undercuts to stay in place.
Not necessarily. If they are intact and not causing problems, we usually leave them alone. However, old amalgam fillings often hide cracks or decay underneath them. If they are leaking, cracked, or cosmetically bothering you (e.g., in your smile line), we can safely remove them and replace them with tooth-colored composite. For cosmetic improvements, see our Teeth Whitening page as well.
The cost depends on the size of the cavity (number of surfaces involved). Generally, a high-quality composite filling ranges from 2,500 BDT to 4,500 BDT. We will give you an exact price after seeing the X-ray during your consultation.
If the decay has destroyed more than 50% of the tooth structure, a regular filling might not be strong enough to support chewing forces and could lead to the tooth fracturing. In these cases, we might recommend an Inlay/Onlay (a custom-made partial crown) or a full Dental Crown for better long-term durability.
Yes. We use BPA-free or low-BPA composite resins that are fully biocompatible. They are widely considered safer than amalgam fillings because they contain no mercury and allow us to preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
Fix It Today, Avoid Pain Tomorrow
Don’t let a small cavity turn into a root canal. Schedule your check-up now.
Call 01323776655