A filling repairs a tooth that decay has made a hole in, before the decay reaches the nerve in the centre. We remove the decayed part, clean the cavity and rebuild the tooth with a tooth-coloured composite material. Most fillings take between thirty and forty-five minutes. This is what patients usually mean by tampal gigi.
When this is usually needed
- A visible dark spot or hole in a tooth — gigi berlubang
- Sharp pain with cold or sweet things that stops quickly
- Food packing into the same spot every time you eat
- A rough edge you keep finding with your tongue
- A filling that has chipped or fallen out
What happens, step by step
Examination and x-ray if needed
Decay between teeth is often invisible from the surface, so a small x-ray may be taken.
Numbing
Local anaesthetic if the cavity is deep. Shallow cavities in enamel often need none — we will tell you which yours is.
Removing the decay
The softened, infected tooth structure is cleared away until only sound tooth remains.
Placing the composite
The material is bonded in thin layers and each layer is set with a curing light.
Shaping and checking the bite
We adjust it until it feels level when you bite. A filling left high will ache.
Before any treatment
This treatment may not be suitable for every patient. Whether it is appropriate for you depends on an examination at the clinic. Before we begin, we will assess your teeth and gums, take an updated medical history, explain the available options, and obtain your consent. Nothing on this page is a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation for your individual case.
Aftercare
- If you were numbed, avoid chewing until the feeling returns — it is easy to bite your cheek without noticing.
- Composite is fully set immediately, so you can eat as soon as the numbness wears off.
- Mild sensitivity to cold for a week or two is normal, especially with a deep filling.
- If the tooth feels high when you bite, come back. It is a two-minute adjustment and there is no charge for it.
Common questions
Does getting a filling hurt?
The injection is the part most people notice, and it is brief. With the tooth numb you should feel pressure and vibration but not pain. Shallow fillings often need no injection at all.
How much does a tooth filling cost in Malaysia?
Here the indicative fee is RM 90–250 per filling, depending on the size of the cavity and how many surfaces of the tooth are involved. A small filling in a front tooth sits at the lower end; a large one in a back molar at the upper. Confirmed after examination.
How long does a filling last?
A well-placed composite filling commonly lasts five to ten years, sometimes longer. Lifespan depends more on how well the area is kept clean and whether you grind your teeth than on the material.
Can I have a tooth-coloured filling on a back tooth?
Yes. We use composite throughout. Amalgam is still clinically acceptable but we do not place it, and very large cavities in back teeth may be better served by a crown, which we would discuss with you rather than decide for you.
What if the cavity has reached the nerve?
Then a filling alone will not settle it, and root canal treatment or extraction becomes the choice. We would explain both, with fees, before doing anything.
Related treatments
- Root canal treatment — Rawatan saluran akar
- Scaling & polishing — Cuci gigi
- Crowns & bridges — Mahkota gigi