Dental Fillings & Bonded Restorations in North York

Sensitivity after a filling can come from several things — incomplete moisture control during bonding, shrinkage stress on the tooth, deep proximity to the nerve, or the bite being slightly high. In most cases, it's preventable with careful technique: rubber dam isolation, layered placement, proper light-curing, and a careful bite check at the end. If you've had repeated sensitivity from fillings done elsewhere, it's worth discussing the technique we use here — many patients tell us their new restorations feel completely different.

Not automatically. If your existing amalgam fillings are sound — no cracks, no leakage, no decay around the edges — there's no clinical reason to replace them based on the material alone. Health Canada, the FDA, and the WHO have reviewed dental amalgam and concluded it's safe for most patients. We discuss replacement when there's a clinical indication: visible cracks, leakage, recurrent decay underneath, fracture, or cosmetic concerns the patient raises.

A direct filling is placed in your tooth in layers and shaped by hand — the right choice for small to moderate cavities. An inlay or onlay is fabricated outside your mouth (either same-day in our milling system or by a dental lab) and then bonded into your tooth. We recommend inlays and onlays for larger cavities — especially those crossing the chewing surface or extending over cusps — because the fabricated restoration is stronger, more dimensionally stable, and protects the tooth from flexure.

With proper technique and good oral hygiene, composite restorations typically last 10–15 years. Amalgam restorations historically lasted 15–20+ years, partly because the material is less technique-sensitive. Modern bonded composites have closed much of that gap when placed correctly. The biggest variable in restoration longevity isn't the material itself — it's whether the placement technique was rigorous, plus your bite forces and home care.

Usually because the cavity is large enough that a direct filling would have to do too much structural work. Once a cavity crosses one or both of the chewing-surface cusps on a back tooth, a direct composite is at higher risk of flexure under chewing forces — which can lead to sensitivity, cracks, and eventual fracture. An onlay (which covers and protects the cusps) or a crown (which covers the whole tooth) takes that load off the remaining tooth structure.

Most extended health dental insurance plans cover inlays and onlays under their 'major restoration' provisions — typically at 50% up to your annual or lifetime maximum. We submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurer. Composite and amalgam fillings are usually covered under 'basic restoration' provisions at 80–100%. CDCP covers some restorative procedures for eligible patients.

A rubber dam is a thin sheet of latex (or non-latex material) placed around the tooth being treated. It keeps saliva, moisture, and breath out of the working area. For any bonded restoration, this is the difference between a reliable bond and an unreliable one — moisture contamination during bonding is one of the leading causes of restoration failure and post-op sensitivity. We use it routinely. Most patients find it more comfortable than they expect.

Modern dental composites are extensively studied and approved by Health Canada and the FDA. Composites contain a resin matrix and a ceramic filler. There has been research interest in low-level Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure from some older composites, but current materials are formulated to minimize this and exposure from a polymerized restoration is well below safety thresholds. If you have specific medical or chemical sensitivities, we can discuss material options including BPA-free composites and ceramic restorations.