Gone are the days when treating a cavity meant a mouth full of silver amalgam. At Basil Dental Clinic, Sector 82A, Gurgaon, we use only tooth-coloured composite resin fillings that match the natural shade of your tooth — invisible, durable, and mercury-free.
What Is a Tooth-Coloured (Composite) Filling?
A composite filling is made from a mixture of resin and fine glass particles, carefully shade-matched to your natural tooth colour. Unlike amalgam (silver) fillings, composite bonds directly to the tooth structure — meaning less healthy tooth needs to be removed during preparation. The result is a restoration that looks and feels completely natural.
When Are Dental Fillings Needed?
- Tooth decay (cavities) — The most common reason. Decay is removed and the cavity is filled to prevent further damage and restore tooth function.
- Cracked or chipped teeth — Composite resin can repair minor chips and fractures in a single appointment.
- Replacing old amalgam fillings — Many patients choose to replace dark silver fillings with tooth-coloured alternatives for aesthetic reasons or due to concerns about amalgam leakage.
- Worn teeth — Teeth worn from grinding or acid erosion can be built up with composite.
- Composite bonding — Part of smile design, composite can reshape and improve the appearance of teeth quickly and reversibly.
Composite vs Amalgam Fillings
Appearance: Composite is tooth-coloured and invisible. Amalgam is silver and darkens with age, creating a visible grey shadow through the tooth.
Conservation: Composite bonds to the tooth and requires less removal of healthy structure. Amalgam requires undercutting of the tooth cavity to mechanically retain the filling, meaning more healthy tooth is sacrificed.
Mercury content: Amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury by weight. While the FDA and most dental associations consider properly placed amalgam safe, many patients prefer mercury-free alternatives.
Durability: Modern composite fillings are highly durable for posterior (back) teeth — lasting 7–10 years with good oral hygiene. Amalgam historically lasted longer, but advances in composite materials have largely closed this gap.
The Filling Procedure — What to Expect
1. Assessment & anaesthesia — The extent of decay is confirmed by examination and X-ray. Local anaesthesia numbs the area.
2. Decay removal — Decayed tooth structure is removed with precision. Composite requires less removal than amalgam.
3. Conditioning — A bonding agent is applied to the prepared tooth surface.
4. Composite placement — The filling is applied in layers and each layer is hardened with a curing light.
5. Shaping & polishing — The filling is shaped to match your natural tooth and polished for a smooth, natural finish.
Most single-surface fillings are completed in 30–45 minutes. Multiple fillings can often be done in the same appointment.
Filling Cost in Gurgaon
Tooth-coloured composite fillings at Basil Dental cost from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 3,500 per tooth, depending on the size and number of surfaces involved. Small fillings are inexpensive; large multi-surface restorations cost more. Getting a filling early — when decay is small — is significantly cheaper than waiting until a crown or root canal is needed.
How long do composite fillings last?
Modern composite fillings typically last 7–12 years with good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups. Fillings on back teeth (molars) that experience high biting forces may wear faster than those on front teeth. Grinding teeth significantly reduces filling lifespan — ask us about a night guard if you grind.
Is it worth replacing old amalgam fillings?
There is no specific reason to replace intact, well-functioning amalgam fillings purely for mercury concerns — the risk of exposure during removal may exceed any benefit. However, if an old amalgam filling is cracked, leaking, or the tooth around it is decayed, replacement with composite makes sense. We can assess your existing fillings and give you an honest recommendation.
Can a filling be done in one visit?
Yes. Composite fillings are completed in a single visit. There is no lab fabrication required. You leave the same day with a fully restored tooth.
Basil Dental Clinic, Vatika Town Square, Sector 82A, Gurgaon. Open 7 days, 10 AM–8 PM. Call +91-8826181666 or book an appointment. Consultation: Rs. 300.