Cleaning out decay and rebuilding the tooth with a material that matches its color.
The decayed part of the tooth is removed, the cavity is cleaned, and the space is built back up in layers with a composite material that is set with a light. It is shaded to the tooth next to it.
The injection is the part people mind, and it is over in under a minute. The rest is pressure, vibration and water, and you can raise your hand at any point to stop.
If the decay turns out to have reached the nerve we stop and tell you before going further. That changes the treatment and the cost, and it is not a decision to make while somebody is numb and cannot talk.
A small filling on a front tooth takes a fraction of the time a large one on a back tooth does. We tell you which yours is before we start.
It depends on its size and where it is. A small one often lasts well over ten years; a large one in a heavily used tooth is a shorter story, and we will say so.
This is informational; consult your dentist for diagnosis and treatment.