Conservative dentistry: fillings, inlays and onlays
Your own tooth is the best tooth there is. We take the least invasive approach to tooth decay and minor damage, using fillings in the natural colour of your tooth, and restore larger defects with precisely fitted ceramic inlays and onlays. This way, as much healthy tooth structure as possible is preserved.
Why saving your tooth always comes first
No replacement is ever as good as your own tooth. That is why preserving it is our highest priority. Tooth decay develops slowly and stays painless for a long time, so it often goes unnoticed. This is exactly why catching it early matters so much: the sooner we find decay, the more gently it can be treated. As long as only the enamel is affected and its surface is still intact, there is no need to drill. Enamel can take up minerals again, and we actively support this with fluoride while keeping an eye on the spot at your check-ups. Only once the decay breaks through the enamel and a cavity forms does the tooth need a filling. Even then the same rule applies: the earlier we treat it, the less tooth structure is lost.
Lost tooth structure does not grow back. Modern decay treatment is therefore as minimally invasive as possible: we remove only the diseased tissue and preserve what is healthy. This is made possible by the adhesive technique, where the composite (a tooth-coloured resin) bonds firmly to the tooth. Sacrificing healthy structure simply so that a filling has something to hold onto is now a thing of the past.
Not all damage is caused by decay. Chipped corners or defects at the neck of the tooth, for example from grinding or acid, are treated with the same tooth-coloured materials.
How we proceed
- 01 Examination and diagnosis
We begin by examining the tooth thoroughly and establishing how deep the damage reaches. Decay between the teeth or underneath an old filling is often invisible from the outside, and here a targeted X-ray helps. If the decay goes deep, we also check the vitality of the tooth, in other words whether the nerve is still healthy. We take the time to explain what we have found and discuss together which treatment is right for your tooth.
- 02 Removing decay gently
Under local anaesthetic, we remove the decay. Directly over the tooth nerve we work with particular care, so as not to expose or injure it. In many cases this keeps the tooth vital and means root canal treatment is not needed at all. This gentle approach is also recommended by the current European guidelines. Should the nerve be reached nonetheless, in suitable cases it can be covered with a tissue-friendly material and preserved. If that is not enough, a root canal treatment saves the tooth.
- 03 Fillings for small and medium defects
Small to medium defects are filled directly with composite, layer by layer, each one hardened individually. We match the colour precisely to your tooth, often using several shades layered together, so that the filling looks natural and does not stand out. We treat chipped corners or defects at the neck of the tooth in exactly the same way. To finish, we check your bite and polish the filling smooth, because smooth surfaces give new plaque less to hold onto.
- 04 Inlays and onlays for larger defects
For larger defects in the back teeth, a ceramic laboratory-made filling is often a particularly stable and long-lasting solution: what is known as an inlay. When it also replaces the cusps of the tooth, it is called an onlay. It is produced to a precise fit in the dental laboratory from a digital scan and bonded firmly to the tooth. Badly damaged teeth, for example after root canal treatment, are stabilised with a build-up, where necessary as the foundation for a crown.
Good to know
Since January 2025, dental amalgam has been banned across the EU. We work exclusively with tooth-coloured composite and ceramic, both metal-free materials that are well tolerated. Even so, there is no need to have an intact old amalgam filling replaced: removing sound fillings as a precaution offers no health benefit and needlessly sacrifices tooth structure. Studies even show that drilling them out can temporarily raise mercury exposure. Replacement is only necessary once the filling starts to leak, breaks, or new decay forms underneath it. If you would nonetheless like your amalgam replaced for personal reasons, that is of course possible. During removal we protect you with a rubber dam (a stretched sheet of rubber that shields the tooth) and strong suction, so that mercury exposure stays as low as possible.
No filling lasts a lifetime. How long it lasts depends on its size and position, on your bite and on your daily care. Regular check-ups help us spot small problems early. If a defect does appear over time, it can often be repaired in a targeted way rather than replacing the whole filling, which spares tooth structure.
After a deep filling, the tooth may stay sensitive for a while. This is normal and usually settles down on its own. If the decay reached very close to the nerve, a root canal treatment may still become necessary later despite all our care, but the tooth itself is preserved. If too much tooth structure has already been lost for a filling or an onlay, a crown protects the tooth: you can read more on the dental crowns page.
Treatments in this area
- Tooth-coloured composite fillings
Repair decayed areas discreetly and durably, using a gentle adhesive technique.
- Ceramic inlays and onlays
Made-to-measure fillings for larger defects: kinder to tooth structure than a crown.
- Build-up fillings and core build-ups
Rebuild badly damaged teeth, for example after root canal treatment, as a stable foundation for a crown.
- Repairing existing fillings
We often repair small defects rather than replacing the whole filling. This spares tooth structure.
- Resin infiltration without drilling
We seal and stop early decay in the enamel with a thin, free-flowing resin, entirely without drilling and without anaesthetic.
- Decay treatment without drilling
When drilling is not an option, for example because a young child cannot yet cope with it, we treat the decay with a gentle gel procedure, entirely without drilling and without an injection. This protects the tooth from further damage and preserves it for later restoration.
Your first appointment
At your first appointment we take a look at the affected tooth and decide on the treatment together with you. Smaller fillings are often placed straight away in the same session.
More treatments
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Digital dentistry
Examine thoroughly, plan precisely, deliver digitally: from the first diagnosis to the finished restoration, we work digitally throughout. This makes treatments more accurate, more comfortable and more predictable.
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Professional dental cleaning and preventive care
Healthy teeth begin with good prevention. Professional dental cleanings as part of a personalised preventive care plan remove plaque, tartar and discolouration before problems arise.
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Periodontics and gum health
Bleeding gums are a warning sign. We treat gingivitis and periodontitis with modern periodontal therapies to preserve your teeth and jawbone.
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Conservative dentistry: fillings, inlays and onlays
Your own tooth is the best tooth there is. We take the least invasive approach to tooth decay and minor damage, using fillings in the natural colour of your tooth, and restore larger defects with precisely fitted ceramic inlays and onlays. This way, as much healthy tooth structure as possible is preserved.
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Root canal treatment (endodontics)
An inflamed tooth nerve does not mean the end of the tooth. Wherever possible, we keep the living nerve. Where that is not possible, a root canal treatment removes the inflammation from inside the tooth, relieves the pain and saves the tooth from extraction.
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Orthodontics and invisible aligners
We correct tooth position and bite with treatments tailored to each patient: from traditional braces to invisible aligners, for children, teenagers and adults.
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Dental crowns and partial crowns
Even a badly damaged tooth can usually be saved. A crown or partial crown restores its shape, stability and chewing function. That way you keep your own tooth.
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Tooth extraction and wisdom teeth
Sometimes a tooth extraction is the right treatment: when a tooth can no longer be saved or is completely in the wrong position, or when a wisdom tooth is causing problems. In that case we remove the tooth gently under local anaesthetic and, where needed, plan the right tooth replacement before the procedure. That way no permanent gap remains after the extraction.
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Dental implants and tooth replacement
The right answer for every gap: we replace a single missing tooth with an implant and a crown. If several teeth are missing, we close the gap with individual implants or an implant-supported bridge. And even for a jaw with no teeth left, we have fixed solutions that look good.
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Cosmetic dentistry
Healthy teeth can be beautiful too: we whiten them in a controlled way and correct shape and colour with veneers or tooth-coloured composite. You decide what should change, and we work as conservatively as possible.
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Children's dentistry
From the very first milk tooth: we support your child’s dental development with relaxed check-ups, fissure sealants and, where needed, gentle treatment of tooth decay.
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Teeth grinding and TMJ disorders
Teeth grinding, jaw pain and clicking in the jaw joint rarely have a single cause. We examine the function of the joint and the muscles and check the teeth for signs of grinding and clenching. A custom-fitted occlusal splint is often used, combined where needed with physiotherapy and other specialities.
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Snoring and sleep apnoea treatment
In many cases, snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea can be treated at the dental practice: with a custom-fitted splint that you wear at night.
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Nervous patients
Time, clear arrangements and an agreed stop signal: gentle dentistry for everyone who finds visiting the dentist difficult.
