01 Dental Fillings
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Periodontist & Implantologist
A dental filling removes decayed tooth structure caused by a cavity and restores the tooth's shape and function with a tooth-colored material, typically completed in a single visit.
At Clarus Dental Specialities in Koregaon Park, fillings are placed directly by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Patients usually visit us for: a cavity found at check-up sensitivity to sweet or cold a small chip or crack an old filling that's failing
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Sharp pain from a new cavity or a broken filling? Emergency slots may be available the same day, subject to the clinic's schedule. Call to confirm.
Quick answer: A dental filling removes decayed tooth structure and restores the tooth's shape and function using a tooth-colored composite material, usually completed in a single visit. In Koregaon Park, Pune, fillings are placed by Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar, a US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist.
Before You Book
But if you want treatment backed by science and done by a US Board Certified Specialist, you're in the right chair.
02 Overview
Cavities form when bacteria in plaque break down sugars and produce acid, which gradually erodes the tooth's enamel. Left untreated, decay can spread deeper into the dentin and eventually reach the pulp, the nerve tissue at the center of the tooth.
A filling addresses decay at an earlier stage: the decayed portion of the tooth is removed, and the resulting space is filled with a tooth-colored composite material, restoring the tooth's shape and allowing it to function normally.
Catching decay early is what keeps treatment simple. A cavity that's caught while still contained to the enamel or outer dentin usually only needs a filling, while decay that reaches the pulp needs root canal treatment instead.
03 Candidacy
Whether a filling is enough, or something more is needed, depends on how far the decay has progressed.
04 Background
Cavities often cause no noticeable symptoms in their early stages, which is why they're frequently found at a routine check-up rather than because of a symptom. By the time a cavity causes noticeable pain, it has often progressed further, sometimes close to or into the nerve.
This is exactly why routine exams and X-rays matter: they catch decay while it's still small enough that a straightforward filling is all that's needed, rather than waiting for pain to prompt a visit.
05 Options
Most fillings follow the same core approach, with the specifics matched to what each tooth needs.
A composite resin material is shade-matched to blend naturally with the surrounding tooth structure.
Straightforward cavities are typically diagnosed and filled in a single visit.
Older fillings that have worn, cracked, or started to leak are replaced before further decay develops underneath.
06 Procedure
The cavity is identified visually and, where needed, confirmed with an X-ray to assess its depth.
Applied to keep the area comfortable, particularly for deeper cavities.
Only the decayed portion of the tooth is removed, preserving as much healthy structure as possible.
Tooth-colored material is placed in layers and shaped to match the tooth's natural contour.
The filling is checked against your bite and polished for a smooth, natural finish.
07 Cost Factors
Cost depends on the size and number of cavities being treated. It's discussed only after examination, once the following are known:
A specific estimate is only meaningful after a clinical evaluation. This section is informational and is not a quotation.
If you've already been told you need a filling, or something more extensive, Dr. Neel is available to review the tooth and share an independent clinical view.
08 Aftercare
If local anaesthesia was used, numbness wears off within a few hours, avoid chewing until then.
Mild sensitivity to temperature around the treated tooth is normal and settles quickly.
Normal eating can resume once feeling has fully returned, unless advised otherwise.
Routine check-ups monitor the filling and catch any new decay early.
09 Limits
Being clear about what a filling can realistically address matters:
10 Your Visit
The first appointment includes an examination, often with an X-ray, to confirm the cavity and its depth. In most cases, the filling is placed the same visit, so you leave with the tooth already treated.
11 Why This Clinic
BDS (Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai) · Postgraduate periodontology training, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA · Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology (2008) · ITI Fellow, International Team for Implantology (2009)
Even routine restorative care benefits from a specialist's eye, and Dr. Neel brings the credentials of Pune's only US Board Certified Periodontist and Implantologist, one of only two in India, to fillings as much as to periodontal surgery.
Only decayed tissue is removed, preserving as much natural tooth as possible.
A periodontist's eye on the gum tissue around every treated tooth.
If a filling isn't enough, that's said plainly, not glossed over.
The only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai.
Patients can also read independent reviews on Google and Practo.
12 Visit Us
This dentist and dental clinic in Koregaon Park also treats patients from nearby areas of Pune. See the full Koregaon Park clinic page →
13 International Patients
Clarus Dental Specialities is the only dental clinic in Pune listed by the US Consulate Mumbai, and Dr. Neel holds a dual US-India dental license, giving NRI and overseas patients confidence in the standard of care available here.
Most fillings are completed in a single visit, making this an easy treatment to fit into a short trip to Pune.
14 FAQ
Most straightforward fillings are completed within a single appointment, often in well under an hour, including numbing time.
Local anaesthesia is used where needed, so the procedure itself isn't painful. Some mild sensitivity afterward is normal and settles within a day or two.
With good oral hygiene, fillings commonly last many years, though they can eventually wear or need replacement depending on their location and how they're used.
Decay continues to progress, potentially reaching the nerve and requiring root canal treatment, or leading to a more extensive restoration than a simple filling would have addressed.
Yes, an old or failing filling is removed and replaced, with any new decay underneath addressed at the same time.
Yes, composite fillings are shade-matched to blend with the surrounding tooth structure, so they're not noticeably visible.
It's best to wait until any numbness from local anaesthesia has fully worn off, typically a few hours, to avoid accidentally biting the numb area.
1. Clinical literature on dental caries management and restorative materials, indexed on PubMed Central. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
2. Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar's peer-reviewed publications, indexed on PubMed. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Call or WhatsApp the clinic directly to ask questions or set up a consultation with Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar.
This page provides general dental information and does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment plan, or medical advice. Outcomes vary by individual case. No specific results, costs, or timelines are guaranteed. Please consult Dr. Neel Bhatavadekar or a qualified specialist for advice specific to your condition.
