Restorative Dentistry

Composite Tooth Fillings
Fillings — Natural-Looking, Mercury-Free Restorations

Composite and GIC fillings that look like your tooth, bond to your tooth, and are placed with the precision your tooth deserves. Mercury-free, ICDAS-guided, and done right the first time.

Starting From

₹3,000+

Duration

30–60 min

Pain Level

Minimal

Filling cost depends on how many surfaces of the tooth are involved. A single-surface filling costs less than a three-surface filling on the same tooth. All costs are agreed before treatment begins.

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— Understanding the Procedure

What is a tooth-coloured filling?

A dental filling restores a tooth that has been damaged by decay, removing the diseased portion and replacing it with a material that seals the tooth and restores its function. At Tricity Smiles in Chandigarh, we use only tooth-coloured materials — composite resin and glass ionomer cement (GIC) — both of which bond directly to the tooth structure and contain no mercury.

Unlike older silver amalgam fillings, which require the tooth to be shaped around the material, tooth-coloured fillings are bonded adhesively — meaning more of your natural tooth is preserved. Every filling at Tricity Smiles is documented with before and after photographs and radiographs so you can see precisely what has been done and why.

Not every cavity requires a filling immediately. Dr. Sandhu uses ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System) criteria to determine whether a cavity should be monitored, remineralised, or restored — ensuring you receive treatment only when it is clinically indicated.

Molars with cavity preparations isolated by a blue rubber dam
Filling Materials

Not all fillings are the same material

Three types of filling material exist. We offer two of them. Here is how they compare.

Not Offered

Amalgam (Silver)

Silver Amalgam

The traditional filling material used for decades. Durable, inexpensive, but visible, mercury-containing, and requires removal of more healthy tooth structure to place.

  • Contains mercury — not used at Tricity Smiles
  • Requires wider preparation of the tooth
  • Dark grey in appearance — highly visible
  • Expands and contracts with temperature
  • Cannot bond to tooth — relies on mechanical retention

Offered

Glass Ionomer Cement

GIC (Glass Ionomer)

A tooth-coloured material that chemically bonds to tooth structure and releases fluoride, actively helping to protect surrounding enamel from further decay.

  • Mercury-free and tooth-coloured
  • Releases fluoride — protective against further decay
  • Bonds chemically to tooth structure
  • Best suited for cavities near the gumline, primary teeth, and difficult-to-dry areas
  • Less wear-resistant than composite — not recommended for biting surfaces under heavy load

Gold Standard

Composite Resin

Composite Resin

The current gold standard for tooth-coloured fillings. Strong, aesthetic, and bonded directly to the tooth with minimal removal of healthy structure.

  • Mercury-free, natural tooth colour
  • Bonds adhesively — preserves more tooth structure
  • Strong enough for front and back teeth
  • Polished to match the natural tooth surface
  • Lasts 7–15 years with good home care
ICDAS Protocol

Not all decay needs a filling

We use ICDAS — the International Caries Detection and Assessment System — to determine the right treatment for each stage of tooth decay. This means fewer unnecessary fillings and more focus on prevention.

Stage 1 & 2 — Enamel Only

Monitor & Protect

Early decay confined to the enamel surface can often be arrested and reversed. No filling is placed. Fluoride, dietary advice, and improved oral hygiene are used to remineralise the affected area. Progress is monitored at every check-up.

Stage 3 — Dentine Involvement

Remineralise & Review

When decay has reached the outer dentine but the cavity is small, a decision is made based on the patient's caries risk, oral hygiene status, and rate of progression. Some teeth at this stage can still be managed without immediate restoration.

Stage 4–6 — Active Cavitation

Restore

Once decay has cavitated into dentine and is progressing, a filling is required. The decayed tissue is removed, the tooth is assessed for pulp proximity, and the appropriate filling material is placed with precision.

— Understanding the Cost

Why does one filling cost more than another?

A common source of confusion is why two fillings on two different teeth — both described as simply a “filling” — can have different costs. The reason is surfaces.

A tooth has five surfaces: the biting surface (occlusal), the front face (mesial), the back face (distal), the outer cheek-facing side (buccal), and the inner tongue-facing side (lingual or palatal). Decay can involve one of these surfaces or several of them. A filling that covers three surfaces requires significantly more material, time, and technique than a single-surface restoration.

At Tricity Smiles, we show you your X-rays and photographs before treatment so you understand exactly which surfaces are involved and why the recommended filling is the size it is. Use the interactive guide on the right to see how surface involvement affects cost.

Filling Cost Estimator
Select the surfaces involved to see how cost is calculated.
Tap a surface to select it
Top view of molar showing Buccal, Lingual, Mesial, Distal and Occlusal surfaces
Occlusal Mesial Distal Buccal Lingual
No surfaces selected
Select a surface
Surfaces selected
0

Occlusal (biting surface) is the base at ₹3,000. Each additional surface involved adds ₹1,000. Maximum for all 5 surfaces: ₹7,000.

This is an estimate only. Your exact cost is discussed and agreed before treatment. There are no hidden charges.

— Precision & Technique

When the filling is close to the nerve

Deep fillings — where decay has progressed close to the pulp (the nerve and blood supply of the tooth) — require a fundamentally different level of care. The margin for error is narrow. Heat, vibration, or the wrong material at this depth can irreversibly damage the pulp and turn what should have been a straightforward filling into a tooth that needs root canal treatment.

At Tricity Smiles, deep restorations are managed with a set of tools and materials that most clinics in Chandigarh simply do not use. This is not an upgrade or an add-on — it is the standard of care that every deep filling deserves.

High-Magnification Loupes

Magnification loupes allow Dr. Sandhu to work at a level of detail invisible to the naked eye — seeing exactly where decay ends and healthy dentine begins, preserving more of the natural tooth.

Electric Handpieces

Unlike traditional air-driven drills, electric handpieces operate at precisely controlled speeds with consistent torque. This means less heat generated, less vibration transmitted to the pulp, and more tactile feedback for the dentist.

Pulp-Protecting Materials

When decay is close to the pulp, advanced calcium silicate-based materials are placed as a base before the final filling. These create a biological seal, stimulate secondary dentine formation, and give the pulp the best possible chance of remaining healthy.

Before & After Documentation

Every filling is documented with pre-treatment and post-treatment photographs and radiographs. You can see exactly what was found, what was removed, and what was placed — before you leave the chair.

— Why Tricity Smiles

Why your choice of dentist matters for a filling

US-Trained Restorative Expertise

Dr. Sandhu trained at USC and UCSF, where precision restorative technique is fundamental to the curriculum. The difference between a filling that lasts a decade and one that fails in two years is almost entirely down to technique and materials — and that is what his training emphasised.

ICDAS-Guided Treatment

We do not place fillings because a cavity exists. We place fillings because the clinical evidence indicates that a restoration will benefit the tooth. Early cavities are monitored and managed preventively wherever possible — saving you the cost and inconvenience of unnecessary treatment.

Mercury-Free, Premium Materials

We use only composite resin and GIC — no amalgam. The composite materials used at Tricity Smiles are selected for their durability, colour stability, and bond strength. Substandard filling materials cost less and fail faster. We do not use them.

Full Documentation, Full Transparency

Before and after photographs and X-rays are taken for every filling. You see what we see. You understand exactly what was done — and you have a record of it. No other clinic in Chandigarh does this as standard for routine fillings.
Dr. Sandhu — US-trained dentist in Chandigarh with credentials from USC and UCSF

Dr. Sandhu
USC · UCSF · CMC Ludhiana

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— Our Philosophy

Precision over price — why your filling
matters more than you think.

A dental filling is the most common procedure performed in dentistry. It is also one of the most variable. Two dentists can treat the same cavity on the same tooth and produce outcomes that are years apart in longevity — because the material used, the technique employed, the tools available, and the time taken all compound.

In Chandigarh, composite fillings are available at a wide range of price points. Some are performed quickly with composite materials that prioritise cost over quality, placed without adequate isolation, without magnification, and without checking pulp proximity on deep cavities. These fillings work. For a while.

“A filling done right is the most important thing — because it saves time, money, and expensive treatment down the road.”

A failed filling means a replaced filling. A replaced filling means a larger cavity to restore. A deep cavity restored incorrectly means a tooth that needs root canal treatment. A root canal tooth that then fractures means an extraction and an implant. Each step in this sequence multiplies the original cost of a properly placed filling many times over.

At Tricity Smiles, fillings are not a volume procedure. Every restoration is documented, every deep cavity is managed with the right materials and magnification, and every patient leaves knowing exactly what was done and why. We believe the right tools, the right materials, and the right time are not luxuries in restorative dentistry — they are the minimum standard.

Do not cheap out for dentists who do not use the right tools or sub-par filling materials. Your teeth are not a place to save money.

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—   FAQ

Filling FAQs

Common questions about composite fillings, tooth decay treatment, and what to expect in Chandigarh.

How much does a tooth filling cost in Chandigarh?
Composite and GIC fillings at Tricity Smiles start from ₹3,000. The final cost depends on the number of surfaces involved in the filling — a one-surface filling costs less than a three-surface filling on the same tooth. Use the interactive guide above to understand how surfaces affect cost. All costs are discussed and agreed before treatment begins.
Composite resin is the gold standard tooth-coloured filling material — strong, aesthetic, and bonded directly to the tooth. Glass ionomer cement (GIC) releases fluoride and bonds chemically to tooth structure, making it particularly suitable for cavities near the gumline, in primary teeth, and in areas that are difficult to keep completely dry. The appropriate material is chosen based on the location and clinical requirements of each cavity.
No. We use ICDAS criteria to determine whether a cavity should be monitored, remineralised, or restored. Early-stage decay confined to enamel can often be arrested with fluoride and dietary changes. Only cavities that meet specific clinical criteria — typically those that have progressed into dentine and are actively advancing — are restored with a filling.
No. Tricity Smiles does not place amalgam fillings. We use only tooth-coloured composite resin and GIC — both mercury-free materials that bond to the tooth rather than being packed into a mechanically prepared cavity.
Deep fillings are managed with high-magnification loupes for precise decay removal, electric handpieces for controlled cutting speed and minimal heat, and advanced pulp-protecting materials placed before the final restoration. This approach significantly reduces the risk of the tooth requiring root canal treatment.
A well-placed composite filling lasts 7–15 years with good oral hygiene and regular check-ups. Longevity depends on the size and location of the filling, the quality of material used, the technique of placement, and how well the tooth is maintained. Poorly placed fillings with substandard materials fail significantly sooner.
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After your filling

What to expect and how to care for your restored tooth.
Immediately After
  • Avoid eating until the anaesthesia has fully worn off — usually 1–2 hours
  • Your bite may feel slightly high immediately after — this settles as the anaesthesia wears off
  • Avoid very hot or cold food and drinks for the rest of the day

First 24–48 Hours

  • Brush normally — the filling is set immediately
  • Avoid hard, crunchy foods on the filled tooth for 24 hours
  • Avoid chewing on the filled side if the tooth still feels sensitive
Normal After a Filling
  • Mild sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure for 1–4 weeks — especially with deep fillings
  • Deep fillings may take longer to settle — this is normal as the pulp responds to treatment

Bite feels wrong or tooth is painful?

Call us — Mon–Fri 10–7, Sat 10–2
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Related reading: Dental fillings: types and cost  ·  Stages of tooth decay

A filling done right protects your tooth for years.

Book your appointment with Dr. Sandhu. Precision restorations, premium materials, full documentation — and a filling that is built to last.

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