Restorative and preventive dentistry
Composite restorations, correction of enamel defects, Air Flow hygiene and prevention — tailored to individual needs.
Dental restorations (fillings): when they make sense
A restoration, or filling, rebuilds the lost part of the crown with a composite material that bonds firmly to the tooth. In veterinary dentistry it is done when clinically indicated — to close a defect, protect the dentine and pulp from bacteria and reduce sensitivity — not for appearance.
A filling is appropriate only when the pulp is alive and not involved, and the root and surrounding bone are healthy. That is why I first assess the tooth under anaesthesia and take dental radiographs.
- ✓Caries in dogs that has not reached the pulp — most often on the chewing surfaces of the molars
- ✓Enamel defects: hypoplasia, erosion, areas of lost enamel
- ✓Small crown fractures without pulp exposure, where exposed dentine needs covering
- ✓Sealing the access cavity after root canal treatment
Fissure sealing: prevention, not treatment
Fissures are the natural grooves and pits on the chewing surface of a tooth. In some dogs they are deep: plaque and food debris stay there longer and a toothbrush reaches them less well. This is where caries can begin.
When sealing, I fill these grooves with a flowable dental material — a sealant. It bonds to the enamel and leaves a smoother surface, so less plaque is retained and home cleaning becomes easier.
- ✓Usually the molars and large premolars of dogs with deep natural fissures
- ✓Only on healthy teeth without caries — if caries is already present, a restoration is needed
- ✓After examination and dental radiographs, most often during COHAT under the same anaesthetic
- ✓I check the sealant at routine check-ups: over time it can wear and may need renewing
Why dental radiographs come before a filling
The size of a defect on the crown says nothing about the inside of the tooth. Even without visible pulp exposure, an impact can damage the pulp, and caries can extend deeper than it appears on the surface. A filling placed over dead pulp lets infection carry on developing unnoticed beneath it.
So I choose the plan only after radiographs: a restoration, endodontic treatment, a crown or, if the tooth can’t be predictably saved, extraction.
- ✓Whether the pulp is alive and shows no signs of having died
- ✓Whether there is inflammation in the bone at the root tip
- ✓Whether a fracture or crack extends onto the root
- ✓How deep the caries has spread
How a restoration is done
Fillings are placed under inhalational anaesthesia with local dental nerve blocks — this lets me prepare the tooth carefully and check the result, and spares the animal the stress of work inside its mouth.
- ✓Examination and probing of the tooth under anaesthesia
- ✓Dental radiographs: pulp, root, bone
- ✓Removal of diseased tissue and surface preparation
- ✓Bonded restoration with composite material
- ✓Polishing and a bite check
Fillings in cats: why a ‘hole’ in the tooth is usually not caries
In cats, a defect near the gumline that looks like caries most often turns out to be tooth resorption (TR). It is a different process: the body’s own cells destroy the tooth, and the destruction continues under a filling. So teeth with TR are not filled; they are treated by extraction or, under strict radiographic criteria, crown amputation.
Who this procedure is for
- ✓After root canal treatment on a functional tooth
- ✓For a fracture with exposed dentine but no pulp exposure, sealing or restoration may be considered
- ✓Enamel defects or hypoplasia
- ✓A need for professional polishing and Air Flow
- ✓A preventive check-up and care advice
Symptoms that may indicate this procedure
How diagnosis works
- ✓Assessment of enamel condition and bite
- ✓X-rays where needed
- ✓Assessment of whether restoration is possible
- ✓Dental radiography before a filling or fissure sealing, to assess the pulp, root and bone
How the procedure works
- ✓Composite restoration of defects
- ✓Treatment of enamel hypoplasia
- ✓Fissure sealing, only where indicated
- ✓Enamel polishing
- ✓Professional Air Flow hygiene
Technology and equipment
Possible results
- ✓Tooth shape and function restored
- ✓Damaged enamel protected
- ✓A cleaner tooth surface after Air Flow
What the owner receives after the procedure
- ✓Guidance on using the restored tooth
- ✓Home prevention tips
- ✓A schedule of follow-up check-ups
- ✓Checking the restoration or sealant at routine check-ups
What affects the fee
Cost depends on the type of restoration, the tooth involved and the amount of work required.
Frequently asked questions
No. This procedure is carried out only where indicated — depending on tooth anatomy, age and overall dental health.
Air Flow uses a pressurised jet of powder and water to remove plaque and staining from the tooth surface, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Yes, when clinically indicated: for caries, enamel defects or a small crown fracture without pulp exposure. Before a filling, the tooth needs examining under anaesthesia and dental radiographs — they show whether the pulp is alive and the root healthy. If the pulp is involved, endodontic treatment comes first.
Even a small chip can come with pulp damage or a crack running onto the root — none of which is visible from outside. A radiograph helps decide whether a restoration is enough or endodontic treatment is needed.
About dental radiography →Sealing is prevention: it smooths deep natural grooves on the chewing surface so that less plaque is retained and home cleaning becomes easier. It is done only on healthy teeth and when clinically indicated, and the sealant is checked at routine check-ups.
Related services
Endodontics & Tooth Preservation
Root canal treatment and vital pulp therapy to preserve traumatised or diseased teeth where clinically indicated.
How root canal treatment works →Dental crowns
After trauma, substantial tooth destruction or endodontic treatment, a tooth may need extra protection. One option can be a custom-made dental crown.
More about dental crowns →Periodontology & Regenerative Therapy
Oral cavity sanitation, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease — from gingivitis to regenerative therapy where indicated.
More about periodontology →COHAT
COHAT is a comprehensive oral assessment under anaesthesia that includes oral cavity sanitation, periodontal examination, full-mouth dental radiography and evaluation of every tooth.
More about COHAT →© dr.vetstomat. Original content.
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