Tooth cavity or in other words tooth decay is one of the most common diseases seen in the general population. To put it in simple words, a tooth cavity is the formation of hole caused by erosion of the tooth due to acid production from bacteria. A further progression of tooth cavity will lead to sensitivity, pain and eventually tooth loss. Therefore it is necessary to get the right treatment at the right time to prevent any future damage to the teeth.
In this blog, our Smile expert Dr.Esha helps you understand the different materials used for tooth cavity filling cost, treatment and how to choose the right treatment.
Table of Contents
What is a Tooth Cavity?
A tooth cavity/ tooth decay is the irreversible acidic erosion of the tooth caused by sugar eating bacteria.
Early Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Cavity
- Food lodgement
- Sensitivity on eating extreme hot /cold
- Mild tenderness of tooth
Late Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Cavities
- High Sensitivity at times (even to room temperature water)
- Extreme pain that lingers for a long time
- Inability to eat/chew properly from the affected tooth
- Infection/Pus formation
Why Tooth Cavity Filling Cost and Timely Fillings Are Important?
Ignoring tooth cavities for a long time can lead to severe pain, loss of teeth function to chew properly and in worst case scenario loss of tooth structure needing tooth removal. Therefore timely tooth cavity filling is very important, especially in cases where tooth appearance and issues like yellow teeth are a concern.
Delaying your cavity filling leads to further intensive treatment like root canal treatment, tooth crowns or extraction. These treatments require more dental visits, consume more time and are in turn a lot more expensive than your normal tooth cavity filling (which can be completed in Single sitting).
Getting tooth cavity fillings at the early stage will save not only your time but also your money.
Tooth Cavities in Children
Children are highly prone to have tooth cavities. Their feeding habits like breast feeding or bottle feeding at night, inability to maintain their own teeth by brushing properly and presence of thinner enamel on the milk/primary teeth make them more susceptible to decay.
Milk tooth cavities can also affect the growing permanent tooth buds and therefore it is necessary to have them restored in the early stages.
Tooth Cavity Filling Cost – Overview
Cost of cavity filling largely depends on the complexity of case, size of the filling, time required to complete a particular filling, type of filling (Amalgam, composite and glass ionomer), location of filling (front vs back), No.of tooth surfaces involved and aesthetic requirement of the filling. Other charges include xrays, local anesthesia, rubber dam application etc.
| Filling Material | Tooth Cavity Filling Cost (₹) | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Amalgam | 500 – 1,500 | Back teeth, non-aesthetic areas |
| Glass Ionomer Cement | 1,000 – 2,000 | Children, small cavities |
| Composite Filling | 1,500 – 4,000 | Front teeth, aesthetic zones |
Factors Affecting Tooth Cavity Filling Cost
| Factor | How It Affects Cost |
|---|---|
| Complexity of the case | Higher complexity increases cost |
| Size of the cavity | Larger cavities cost more |
| Time required | Longer procedure = higher cost |
| Type of filling material | Composite costs more than GIC or Amalgam |
| Location of tooth | Front teeth cost more than back teeth |
| Number of tooth surfaces | More surfaces increase cost |
| Aesthetic requirement | Higher aesthetics increase cost |
Tooth Cavity Filling Cost Depending on the Material
| Material | Cost |
|---|---|
| Amalgam | 500/- to 1,500/- |
| Glass ionomer cement | 1,000/- to 2,000/- |
| Composites | 1,500/- to 4,000/- |
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam or silver filling has been used in tooth fillings for a very long time. An Amalgam filling when done properly can stay intact for more than 10 years.
But now since a few years, Amalgam has been replaced with modern materials like composites and glass ionomer cements which are tooth colored and the first choice of filling materials in case of teeth appearing in the aesthetic zone.
Amalgam fillings require significant removal of healthy tooth structure for its adaptation to the tooth surface. With the new concept of conservative dentistry, the use of Amalgam has significantly reduced now-a-days.
Glass Ionomer Cements
This is a tooth colored filling which is widely used in children and small cavity fillings in adults. Because of the fluoride content in this material, it helps to prevent dental decay.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are the latest and most preferred choice of fillings. Because of the availability of different composite shades which can be matched with different tooth colours, it is used widely for teeth with high aesthetic needs, similar to procedures like teeth whitening.
Although being highly technique sensitive, it is widely used as it supports the concept of conservative dentistry. Composite fillings require removal of only decayed tooth structure and thus preserve the healthy tooth portions.
Step-by-Step Tooth Cavity Filling Procedure
Overall the tooth cavity filling takes about 30 to 60 mins average.
The procedure starts with examining the tooth along with necessary xrays.
Then the tooth is numb using local anesthesia ( if required).
Once the tooth is completely numb, the dentist slowly starts removing the tooth decay.
After complete removal of the infected tooth portion, a suitable filling is carefully placed on the sound tooth structure.
The filling is finally polished at the end to provide smooth, finished surfaces.
Tooth Cavity Filling Cost – Saving Tips
Though tooth decay is one of the most common disease, it is easily a preventable one. Brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste along with flossing is all you need to prevent tooth cavities, along with understanding how often should you change your toothbrush.
Prevention and early detection saves you the time, money and pain from future dental treatments. Tooth decay is a very slow and gradual process. Tooth decay is a very slow and gradual process and understanding common dental care myths vs facts plays an important role in maintaining oral health.
A small cavity caught and treated at your routine checkup will not only prevent further decay of the tooth but also save you a lot of money which otherwise would have cost you more in case of bigger issues like root canal, wisdom tooth removal and tooth extraction.
A small cavity caught and treated at your routine checkup will not only prevent further decay of the tooth but also save you a lot of money which otherwise would have cost you more in case of bigger issues like root canal and tooth extraction.
At Plexus Dental Studio, we encourage all our patients to have a 6-month follow up to look for any new tooth cavities. These new, small cavities can therefore be addressed at the very early stage and prevent any major treatment modalities like root canal, dental implants or tooth extraction.
FAQs
Why do front tooth cavity fillings cost more than back tooth cavity fillings?
Front tooth fillings have very high aesthetic requirements.These fillings are very technique sensitive and time consuming. Therefore they require high skills and precision. The high costing for front tooth fillings is decided according to the above mentioned factors.
Does getting a tooth cavity filling mean that the same tooth will never decay again?
No. Getting a filling on a particular tooth does not mean that the tooth is not prone to further decay. A tooth is a multi-surface structure.
Filling one surface of the tooth will still have other surfaces exposed to the bacteria present in the oral cavity. Therefore even after getting a tooth cavity filling, one will still have to maintain proper oral hygiene habits like brushing twice a day and flossing to prevent formation of new cavities.
When should I get a filling instead of waiting?
One should get their teeth checked at the very first sign of sensitivity,pain or food lodgement. Early diagnosis of the decay will prevent further progression of the cavity. The small decays can be treated within less time, money and pain.