When decay or damage compromises a tooth, North Star Dentistry restores it using tooth-coloured composite resin or ceramic materials that match your natural enamel — no dark metal margins, no visible amalgam. Our restorative approach is minimally invasive: we remove only what is structurally necessary, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible. Whether you need a small Class I composite or a more extensive ceramic inlay, every restoration is shaped and polished to integrate seamlessly with your bite and smile.
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Well-placed composite resin fillings in low-stress areas typically last 7–10 years, while ceramic inlays and onlays in high-load posterior positions have documented survival rates of over 90% at 10 years. Longevity is influenced by the size of the restoration, the patient's bite forces, and oral hygiene habits — we will give you a realistic expectation for your specific restoration at the time of treatment.
There is no clinical recommendation to replace intact, well-sealed amalgam fillings purely for cosmetic reasons — removal itself carries a small risk of exposing the tooth to additional stress. However, if an existing amalgam filling is cracked, leaking, or associated with secondary decay, replacement with a tooth-coloured restoration is both clinically appropriate and an opportunity to improve the aesthetics of your smile.
All restorative work at North Star Dentistry is performed under local anaesthetic, so the procedure itself is painless. Some patients experience mild tenderness or bite sensitivity for 24–72 hours after placement as the tooth settles — this is normal and resolves without intervention in the vast majority of cases. If sensitivity persists beyond a week, we ask you to come back so we can check the occlusion and seal.