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Dental Fillings in Sydney
Tooth decay and minor damage are common dental concerns, but they don’t have to lead to more extensive treatment. About Smiles is a Sydney dental group with five locations Chatswood, Circular Quay, Crows Nest, Eastgardens and Zetland providing durable, natural looking dental fillings to restore damaged teeth, relieve discomfort and protect your smile. Whether you have a new cavity, a chipped tooth or an old filling that needs replacing, our experienced team can recommend the most suitable treatment to restore the health, strength and appearance of your tooth. You can find your nearest About Smiles clinic and book an assessment.
What Is a Dental Filling?
A dental filling is a restorative treatment used to repair a tooth that has been damaged by decay, wear or minor fractures. After removing the damaged portion of the tooth, your dentist fills the space with a strong restorative material to rebuild the tooth’s structure and help prevent further decay. Modern tooth coloured fillings are carefully matched to your natural teeth, providing a restoration that is both durable and natural in appearance.
When Might You Need a Dental Filling?
Dental fillings are commonly recommended when a tooth has been affected by early decay or minor damage. You may benefit from a filling if you experience tooth sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet foods; pain or discomfort when biting or chewing; a visible cavity or hole in your tooth; a chipped, cracked or worn tooth; a damaged or worn filling that needs replacement; or food frequently becoming trapped between teeth.
In some cases, tooth decay develops without noticeable symptoms. Other early signs of decay can include persistent sensitivity, toothache, dark spots or staining on a tooth, pain when eating sweet foods, visible holes or pits, and rough or broken areas on the tooth surface. Because decay doesn’t always cause pain straight away, regular dental check-ups allow your dentist to detect cavities early, before they become larger problems. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s worth arranging a dental examination as soon as possible.
Dental Fillings at Our Sydney Clinics
At About Smiles, we believe restoring your oral health should be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Our team brings more than 80 years of combined dental experience and uses modern techniques with high-quality restorative materials from established Australian, European and American brands, so fillings are durable, natural-looking and designed to preserve your healthy tooth structure. We use digital X-rays to assess decay accurately, and technology such as air abrasion and The Wand™ computer-assisted anaesthetic system can support conservative, comfortable treatment where appropriate.
We take the time to explain your treatment options, answer your questions and help you feel confident at every stage. As an NSQHS accredited group, we follow recognised national safety and quality standards. Fillings and general restorative care are provided across all five clinics, and some of our clinicians consult in additional languages Mandarin and Cantonese at Chatswood and Crows Nest (Dr Mark Mingjie Lu), and Vietnamese at Circular Quay (Dr Gregory Nguyen).
What Happens During a Dental Filling?
Dental fillings are a straightforward procedure that can often be completed in a single appointment. Treatment typically involves:
Comprehensive examination. Your dentist examines the affected tooth and may take digital X-rays to determine the extent of the decay or damage.
Removing the decay. The damaged or decayed portion of the tooth is carefully removed while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
Restoring the tooth. The cleaned tooth is restored using a tooth-coloured filling material, then shaped and polished to blend naturally with your surrounding teeth. Your bite is checked to make sure the filling feels comfortable and functions normally.
Types of Dental Fillings We Offer
Several filling materials are available depending on the location of the tooth and your clinical needs. Your dentist may recommend tooth coloured composite resin fillings, glass ionomer fillings in selected situations, or other restorative materials where clinically appropriate. Composite fillings are a popular choice because they closely match the natural colour of your teeth while providing good strength and durability.
How Long Do Dental Fillings Last, and How to Care for Them
The lifespan of a filling depends on several factors, including its size and location, the material used and your oral hygiene habits. With good care and regular check-ups, many fillings can last for years before requiring repair or replacement, and your dentist will monitor them during your routine examinations.
Looking after your fillings is simple: brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss every day, limit sugary foods and drinks, avoid chewing hard objects such as ice or pens, and attend regular check-ups and professional cleans. Maintaining good oral hygiene also helps prevent new cavities from developing around existing fillings.
In most cases, you can return to eating shortly after your appointment, though your dentist may recommend waiting until any local anaesthetic has worn off to avoid accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. A composite (tooth-coloured) filling hardens immediately using a curing light, so you can usually resume normal eating relatively quickly. Your dentist will provide personalised aftercare instructions based on your treatment.
Our Sydney Locations
About Smiles has five clinics across Sydney. You can identify your nearest below:
- Chatswood — 2/63A Archer Street, Chatswood NSW 2067 · (02) 9415 3555. Practitioners here include Dr Mark Mingjie Lu (Mandarin and Cantonese; also at Crows Nest), Dr David Argent, Dr David Young and Dr Eugene Foo.
- Circular Quay — Ground Floor, Shop LCC125, 17 Young Street, Circular Quay NSW 2000 · (02) 8319 2323. Practitioners here include Dr Aodhan Docherty and Dr Gregory Nguyen (English and Vietnamese).
- Crows Nest — Suite 103, Level 1, 22 Clarke Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065 · (02) 8622 3900. Dr Mark Mingjie Lu consults here in addition to Chatswood.
- Eastgardens — Shop 350, Level 3, Westfield Eastgardens, 152 Bunnerong Road, Eastgardens NSW 2036 · (02) 8488 9994. Practitioners here include Dr Sabrina Chong, Dr Lucy Cracknell and Dr Jacinda Stamenkovic.
- Zetland — 4/6 Defries Avenue, Zetland NSW 2017 · (02) 9313 6388. Practitioners here include Dr Ashish Gohil and Dr Danny Nguyen-Ngo.
To book an assessment, contact your nearest clinic on the number above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fillings hurt?
The tooth is generally numbed with local anaesthetic beforehand, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure. Some mild sensitivity afterwards is normal and typically settles within a short period.
How do I know if my child needs a filling?
Signs can include sensitivity, visible dark spots, or your child mentioning discomfort while eating though decay doesn’t always cause obvious symptoms early on. Regular check-ups are the most reliable way to catch and treat cavities in children before they progress.
Can old fillings be replaced?
Yes. Fillings that are worn, cracked or no longer sealing properly can generally be replaced. Your dentist will assess the condition of any existing fillings during your routine check-up and advise if replacement is needed.
Are fillings available at all About Smiles locations?
Yes, dental fillings and general restorative care are provided across all five of our Sydney clinics: Chatswood, Circular Quay, Crows Nest, Eastgardens and Zetland. Contact whichever is nearest to arrange an assessment.
Will my private health extras cover a filling?
Many patients use private health extras cover towards fillings, though the amount depends on your level of cover. About Smiles works with Australian private health funds and offers HICAPS claiming where applicable, and our team can help you understand what your fund may cover before treatment begins.