Tooth Fillings in Turkey: White Composite Fillings and Amalgam Replacement

A tooth filling repairs a tooth after decay, a small chip or fracture, or a worn, leaking older filling has been removed, restoring the shape and function of the tooth. At Er Dental Clinic, fillings are usually made from composite resin, a tooth-coloured material that bonds directly to the remaining tooth structure and is built up and hardened in layers with a curing light.

Some patients also arrive with older amalgam fillings, a silver-coloured metal alloy that contains mercury. We place tooth-coloured composite fillings, and an existing amalgam filling can be replaced with composite when there is a clinical reason, such as decay or a failing edge, or simply because you would prefer a tooth-coloured repair.

This page explains when a filling is the right treatment, how composite compares with amalgam, and what to expect during and after the appointment. Where a cavity is too large for a filling, our inlay and onlay page and our root canal treatment page cover the next steps.

Material: tooth-coloured composite resin, bonded directly to the tooth in layers.

Colour: matched to the shade of the surrounding tooth, so a front-tooth filling is not obvious.

Use: small to medium cavities, chipped or worn areas, and replacement of old or failing fillings, including amalgam.

Anaesthesia: local anaesthesia numbs the tooth and surrounding gum before any decay is removed; most patients feel pressure rather than pain once the area is numb.

A filling is considered once tooth decay has created a cavity, most often because plaque bacteria have broken down the enamel and started on the dentine underneath. It is also used for a small chip or crack, or to replace an older filling that has cracked, discoloured at the edges or started to let bacteria leak underneath. The stages of tooth decay, from an early white spot to a cavity that has reached the nerve, are explained in more detail on our tooth decay page; this page focuses on the filling itself, once your dentist has confirmed it is the right repair for your tooth.

A filling is not the right repair where a cavity is very large and has removed most of the biting surface of the tooth, since a large filling in a weakened tooth is more likely to crack; an inlay, onlay or crown usually protects the tooth better in that situation. If decay has reached the pulp, the soft tissue in the centre of the tooth, root canal treatment is needed before or instead of a filling, because a filling alone cannot resolve an infection inside the tooth. Heavy, untreated grinding can also shorten the life of a filling, and your dentist may suggest a night guard alongside any restorative work. Your dentist confirms which repair suits your tooth from your X-rays and the clinical examination.

Before you travel. The process starts with a free online consultation. You send a photo of the tooth, and an X-ray if you have one, and our dentists give an initial view on whether a filling is likely to be the right repair.

At the clinic. A clinical examination and, where needed, an X-ray confirm the size and depth of the decay or damage, and whether the nerve of the tooth is likely to be affected.

Choosing the material. Your dentist explains whether composite alone is enough, or whether the cavity is large enough that an inlay, onlay or crown would be a more durable option, before any tooth structure is removed.

Placing a composite filling starts with numbing the tooth and surrounding gum with local anaesthesia, so the tooth can be treated comfortably. Decay or the old filling material is then removed, and the remaining healthy tooth structure is cleaned and prepared. The tooth is bonded, and the tooth-coloured composite is built up in thin layers, each one hardened with a curing light, before the filling is shaped and polished and your bite is checked.

The steps involved are shown in the illustration below.

With a well-placed composite filling, the treated tooth regains its normal shape and function for chewing, and the repair blends in closely with the surrounding tooth so it is not obvious when you talk or smile. Fillings and root canal-treated teeth can last for many years with good care; how long any individual filling lasts depends on its size, your bite, whether you grind your teeth and how well you keep up your daily hygiene.

A filling is a repair, not a renewal. Placing a filling removes decayed or damaged tooth structure, and no filling restores a tooth to the strength of the original, untouched tooth.

Fillings can wear or need replacing over time. Like any restoration, a filling can wear at the edges, stain or, occasionally, leak, and may eventually need to be replaced or upgraded to an inlay, onlay or crown.

A large filling can weaken a tooth. Where very little natural tooth structure remains, a filling may not be strong enough on its own, and an inlay, onlay or crown is usually recommended instead.

Your dentist explains the risks that apply to your specific tooth, based on your X-rays and examination, before you give your consent.

"All amalgam fillings must be removed." A sound, symptom-free amalgam filling is not automatically removed just because it contains mercury, since the removal itself can take away extra healthy tooth structure; replacement is usually considered when there is decay, a failing edge, or a wish for a tooth-coloured repair.

"White fillings don't last." Composite fillings, properly placed and cared for, can last for years; lifespan depends far more on the size of the filling, your bite and your hygiene than on the material alone.

"A filling always hurts." Local anaesthesia numbs the tooth before any decay is removed, so most patients feel pressure and vibration rather than pain during the appointment.

Tooth filling treatment at Er Dental Clinic is assessed and planned by Dt. Vijdan Aslanoglu, alongside our other general dentists. The size and depth of any decay or damage is confirmed from your X-rays and a clinical examination before a filling, inlay, onlay or crown is proposed, and your written treatment plan sets out which repair is recommended and why. The clinic holds an International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate issued by the Republic of Turkiye Ministry of Health (certificate no. ST-6264), which you can check on the e-Devlet document verification service at turkiye.gov.tr/saglik-bakanligi-ebys.

If a cavity or old filling is too large for a straightforward filling, a ceramic inlay or onlay is usually the next option, giving a more durable repair while still keeping most of the natural tooth. Where decay has reached the pulp of the tooth, root canal treatment is needed to treat the infection before the tooth is restored. To help prevent new cavities from forming in the first place, our dental sealants page and our fluoride treatment page cover two preventive options, and our tooth decay page explains how decay progresses at each stage.

Tooth fillings sit alongside several other general dentistry treatments at Er Dental Clinic. The pages below cover related repairs and prevention in more detail.

Composite and amalgam are the two main filling materials used in dentistry, and each has different properties. Er Dental Clinic places tooth-coloured composite fillings; some patients arrive with existing amalgam fillings placed elsewhere, and these can be replaced with composite where there is a clinical reason or a preference for a tooth-coloured repair. Many countries are phasing down the use of amalgam, and your dentist can talk through the general considerations if this is relevant to you.

Most patients return to normal eating and speaking the same day, once the numbness from the local anaesthetic has fully worn off, and there is usually no need to take time off work. It is sensible to avoid chewing on the treated side until the numbness has gone, so you do not accidentally bite your cheek or tongue. Some short-term sensitivity to hot, cold or biting pressure is common in the days after a filling and usually settles by itself as the tooth adjusts.

Send us a photo of your tooth, and an X-ray if you have one, for a free online consultation. Our dentists will give an initial view on whether a filling is the right repair and reply with a written treatment plan and a clear quote, so you can compare your options before you decide to travel. You can also contact us directly with any questions.