A tooth filling is one of the most common dental procedures....it is basically a restorative job that repairs damage caused by tooth decay....it is usually a painless procedure and usually takes about an hour....according to the National Institutes of Health, about 92% of US adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have a cavity....fillings make learning more about tooth decay..what to expect from The filling, the materials commonly used, and the time it takes to set and heal....what to expect?...filling is generally a simple procedure....to begin, the dentist will examine your mouth and use dental instruments to examine the cavity....he may use x-rays on the tooth or teeth to see the extent of decay....you will need a local anesthetic to avoid numbing the tooth, only if the surface of the tooth is being filled ....no anesthesia needed....once the area is numb, your dentist will probably use more than one....a dental drill is used to massage the enamel to remove decay....some dentists may use lasers or air abrasion tools....but these methods are less common....then, the dentist prepares the area for the filling and then fills the hole....some types of fillings harden, It hardens your tooth blue and eventually makes your tooth shiny....it stings right....once the numbness wears off, it may be a little sore or tender after the filling, but you shouldn't be in pain....you should avoid very hot or very cold foods and drinks for a day or two, but for the most part, you can eat normally....how long does it take to get a filling?....generally, a simple filling may take an hour or less It can take from 2 minutes....longer....also depending on the material used for the filling, it may take longer, or require a second visit...eg: Composite resin materials that are layered over your teeth take longer, but are complete in one visit.. Some composite fillings may be made from a photo and require a second visit to bond the filling.. The filling takes about the same time as the original filling or a little longer if the old filling needs to be drilled.. The cavity and old filling are cleaned and the new filling is placed.. What?.. Your dentist will discuss the different materials that can be used to fill your cavity.. Some of the more common options are Silver-colored fillings....these are metal amalgams - a combination of mercury, silver, tin, and copper....this material is more durable than tooth-colored fillings and is generally more affordable than other materials....some people may be concerned about the mercury content, but experts have found no clinical evidence that amalgam fillings disappear....a combination of glass particles...or quartz and resin Acrylic....this material is durable and costs a little more than metal amalgams....gold fillings....this combination of gold, copper and other metals is very durable but more expensive....they also don't look natural....gold fillings are usually done in a lab by a dentist after tooth extraction....glass ionomer fillings....these are also good at preventing tooth discolouration...decay....these teeth They are often used for children's teeth and are more expensive than amalgam.... Porcelain fillings... Although they are as expensive as gold fillings, they look natural... After the dentist takes a sample of your tooth, they are made in a lab.. According to Kenneth Rothschild, DDS, who has 40 years of experience as a general dentist, composite plastics have been used more successfully in the past few decades because they are stronger, have better color variation. and last longer than expected..molars and bicuspids...how long does it take for the filler to close?..how long your filling will take depends on the materials our dentist uses According to Rothschild, amalgam fillings set weakly in 1 hour and become fully strong in about 24 hours.... With this type of filling, it is best to avoid eating solid foods until the filling is complete... Composite fillings and glass ionomer fillings are usually lightweight... They are placed in layers 1 to 2 mm thick, and each layer takes about 2 seconds to fill, while Rothschild's sauce takes 2 seconds to fill. It sets immediately with the help of dental blue wave light.. "It's already ground or baked, and the bonding glue that holds it in place heals in seconds," explained Rothschild.