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.
There are several types of dental fillings and each takes a different amount of time to set. Being aware of the setting time will give you a general time frame for which you should be especially careful not to inflict any damage on the filling. 1  Gold, amalgam, and composite fillings take about 24-48 hours to set.