All I'm trying to do is figure out the heighth of the platform I will need to build to install a new shower stall. Oh and Marlin, I said that a hole was not an option for many reasons. Number one on that list is not wanting to turn a $3,000 job into a $30,000 job.
In brief: Generally.. As far as the filling itself goes, you can eat right away with tooth colored composite fillings, but should wait at least one hour with amalgam (silver) fillings. It's always best you ask your own dentist as this can vary somewhat based upon the size and location of the filling.
This alloy called amalgam is used to fill a tooth. Amalgam does not become hard instantly after the procedure. It takes about 24 hours for a grey filling to harden completely. Dentists recommend waiting one hour after the procedure to eat anything, and to wait 24 hours before eating solid foods. White fillings are made of composite, which is a white paste of resin that hardens instantly when exposed to blue light.