Consent for Fillings

Your treatment plan includes one or more tooth-coloured (composite) fillings, either to repair new decay or to replace older fillings that are worn, leaking or broken. Composite is bonded to the tooth with a dental adhesive. A filling may last anywhere from a few years to ten years or more, depending on its size and position, the forces of your bite, your diet and your home care.

Local anaesthetic is very safe and effective. Problems are rare, but you should know about them:

• Lower teeth. The injection is given near nerves that also supply the tongue. Very rarely, one of these nerves is irritated, leaving part of the tongue numb or with changed taste for weeks or months. In extremely rare cases this does not fully recover.
• Upper teeth. The area has many small blood vessels, so a small bruise can occasionally appear.
• Epinephrine. Most anaesthetics contain epinephrine to make the freezing last longer. It can sometimes cause a brief feeling of a racing heartbeat.

We usually know before your appointment whether a tooth needs a root canal. Sometimes, though, the full extent of the decay only shows once the old filling or decay is removed. If the decay reaches the nerve, root canal treatment or another approach may be needed. If that happens, we will stop and explain before going ahead.

New fillings are often sensitive, especially to cold, for up to 4 to 6 weeks. Call us if the sensitivity is getting worse instead of better, or if the tooth hurts when you bite. A small adjustment to your bite usually fixes it.