Restorative dentistry
Dental Fillings in Turkey
Rebuilding only the part of a tooth that has been lost to decay or damage.
Suitability depends on an individual clinical assessment — nothing is decided before you are examined.
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About the treatment
What a filling can and cannot do
A dental filling restores a tooth where a limited area has been lost to decay, a chip or wear. Tooth-coloured composite is bonded to the tooth and shaped to its natural form. Your dentist assesses whether a filling is appropriate, or whether the tooth needs more support.
A filling relies on the surrounding tooth for strength, and that defines how large it can sensibly be.
When decay damages a tooth, the affected tissue has to be removed before the tooth can be rebuilt. A composite filling replaces that lost structure with a tooth-coloured resin material. It is placed in layers, each hardened before the next, then shaped to follow the tooth’s natural grooves and contours and polished. The shade is chosen to blend with the surrounding tooth.
Composite bonds to enamel and dentine, which means a cavity can often be shaped more conservatively than with older, non-bonded materials. Bonding also helps to seal the edges of the filling. Even so, a filling is only as strong as the tooth around it: the remaining walls carry much of the biting force, and a filling does not reinforce a tooth in the way a crown does.
That sets a practical limit. When a cavity is very large, or a cusp is cracked or missing, a big filling may leave thin walls that could fracture. In that situation an inlay or onlay — a made-to-fit restoration bonded into or over the tooth — or a crown may protect it better. Your dentist will explain where your tooth sits on that scale, and why.
Who may consider it
Who may consider dental fillings
Fillings are used where damage is limited and enough sound tooth remains. Only an examination can show the extent of any decay.
Treatment suitability depends on an individual clinical assessment. Your dentist will discuss the options, risks and expected outcomes with you.
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01
Decay found early
Small cavities seen at a check-up or on an X-ray, sometimes before any symptoms appear.
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02
A chipped edge
Composite can rebuild a small chip, particularly on a front tooth, without covering the whole tooth.
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03
An old filling that is failing
Fillings with leaking edges, cracks or decay around them may be replaced.
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04
Worn areas near the gum
Notches from brushing abrasion or acid wear may be restored, alongside addressing the cause.
Benefits and considerations
What it can offer, and what to weigh up
Balanced information, because the right decision depends on both.
What it can offer
- ConservativeGenerally only decayed or damaged tissue is removed, keeping as much natural tooth as possible.
- Tooth-colouredThe shade is matched to the tooth so the filling blends with it.
- Bonded to the toothBonding helps to seal the margins and can allow a smaller preparation.
- Placed directlyThe filling is built up in the tooth itself, with no separate making stage as for a crown or onlay.
What to consider
- Size limitsVery large cavities may leave weak walls, where an onlay or crown may be more appropriate.
- Wear and stainingComposite can wear and pick up surface stain over time, and edges may need polishing or repair.
- Sensitivity afterwardsSome short-lived sensitivity to cold or biting is common, especially with deeper fillings.
- Decay close to the nerveIf decay has reached or inflamed the pulp, root canal treatment may be needed instead.
Step by step
How a filling is placed
A filling is one of the more straightforward restorative procedures, but careful isolation and layering matter to how well it performs.
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Step 01
Examination and X-ray
Your dentist checks the extent of the decay and how close it comes to the nerve.
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Step 02
Local anaesthetic if needed
Whether anaesthetic is used depends on the depth of the cavity, and is discussed with you.
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Step 03
Removing decay
Decayed tissue and any failing old filling are removed, keeping sound tooth where possible.
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Step 04
Keeping the tooth dry
The tooth is isolated from saliva, because moisture weakens the bond.
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Step 05
Bonding and layering
A bonding agent is applied and composite is built up in layers, each hardened before the next.
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Step 06
Shaping, bite check and polish
The filling is shaped, your bite is checked and adjusted, and the surface is polished.
Side by side
Filling, inlay or onlay, or crown
These restorations differ mainly in how much of the tooth they replace and protect. The right choice depends on how much sound tooth remains.
| Filling | Inlay or onlay | Crown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical damage | Small to moderate cavity | Larger loss, sometimes including a cusp | Extensive loss, or a root-treated back tooth |
| How it is made | Built up directly in the tooth | Made to fit, then bonded | Made to fit, then cemented or bonded |
| Tooth removed | Decay and minimal shaping | Shaping for a precise fit | Tooth reduced all round |
| Cusp protection | Does not cover cusps | An onlay covers one or more cusps | Covers the entire biting surface |
Treatment and Alanya
Small repairs, planned alongside wider care
Fillings are often part of a broader plan, so decay found at your examination can be treated alongside other work during your stay. If a tooth turns out to need more than a filling, the options are explained before anything changes.
How a dental holiday worksWhy Dental Art
What you can expect from us
Dentists in Alanya: Esra Namlı and Oğuz Ulutaş.
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A plan before you book travel
Options, the likely number of appointments and what still depends on an examination — before flights are booked.
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Five languages
The Dental Art group works in Dutch, English, German, Russian and Turkish, with practices in Alanya, Glanerbrug and Venlo.
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One number throughout
WhatsApp +31 6 1508 6008 reaches the clinic before, during and after your visit.
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Stay and transfers on request
Hotel stays and transfers between hotel and clinic can be arranged; what applies to you is confirmed in advance.
Ready when you are
Considering dental fillings? Start with a conversation.
Share what you would like to change and any recent X-rays or photographs. You will hear what is realistic, and what an examination would need to confirm.
Call +31 6 1508 6008Questions
Questions about dental fillings
If yours is not here, ask it directly. There is no obligation in asking.
Ask on WhatsAppAre white fillings strong enough for back teeth?
Modern composites are widely used in back teeth for small and moderate cavities. How they perform depends on the size of the filling, the forces involved and how well the tooth could be kept dry during placement. Where a cavity is very large, a filling of any material may not be the most suitable choice, and your dentist may suggest an onlay or crown instead.
When is a crown or onlay better than a filling?
When so much tooth has been lost that the remaining walls are thin, when a cusp is cracked or missing, or when a back tooth has had root canal treatment and takes heavy load. A large filling in those situations can leave the tooth vulnerable to fracture, whereas an onlay or crown covers and supports the weak parts. Your dentist explains the reasoning from what the examination shows.
Will I feel anything during a filling?
For most cavities a local anaesthetic is used so the tooth is numb, and you may notice pressure and vibration rather than sharp sensations. Very small, shallow fillings sometimes need no anaesthetic at all. This is discussed with you beforehand, and you can signal at any time if you are uncomfortable so that your dentist can pause.
Is sensitivity after a filling normal?
Some sensitivity to cold, or tenderness when biting, is common for a while after a filling, particularly a deep one. If the bite feels high, it usually needs a simple adjustment, so let the clinic know. Pain that is severe, lingers after hot or cold, or keeps you awake should be checked, as it can indicate that the nerve is inflamed.
Can old amalgam fillings be replaced with composite?
Amalgam fillings that are cracked, leaking or have decay around them may be replaced, and composite is one option. Replacing a sound amalgam filling purely for appearance removes some additional tooth structure, so the benefits and drawbacks are discussed first. If the old filling is very large, an onlay or crown may be more appropriate than a new filling.
How do I look after a filling?
Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily and limit frequent sugary snacks and drinks, since new decay can form at the edges of a filling. Avoid biting very hard objects with filled teeth. Regular check-ups allow the margins to be examined and small problems to be repaired before they grow.
Related treatments
Often considered alongside
