Dental Fillings

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are made from a tooth-colored resin that's bonded directly to your tooth. They're the standard treatment for small to moderate cavities and are far less visible than the silver amalgam fillings of decades past. Composite is also a metal-free, biocompatible option for patients who prefer to avoid mercury-based materials.

What makes composite fillings the right choice for most cavities:

• A natural appearance that blends seamlessly with surrounding teeth
• Bonded directly to the tooth, preserving more healthy structure
• Metal-free and biocompatible
• Completed in a single visit
• Less temperature sensitivity than older filling materials

Why Patients Choose Tooth-Colored Over Silver Amalgam

Silver amalgam fillings have been used for over 150 years, but modern tooth-colored materials offer meaningful advantages for both appearance and long-term tooth health:

• They match your natural tooth color — no visible silver or dark spots when you smile or laugh
• They bond directly to the tooth — silver amalgam relies on mechanical retention, which often requires removing more healthy tooth structure
• They don't contain mercury — a concern for patients who prefer biocompatible materials
• They don't expand and contract with temperature — reducing the risk of cracks in the surrounding tooth over time
• They can be repaired or updated rather than fully replaced

For patients who have older amalgam fillings and want to replace them with modern alternatives, we can walk you through the process and timing at your consultation. Learn more about our approach to metal-free dentistry.

Ceramic Inlays and Onlays

When a cavity is too large for a standard filling but the tooth doesn't need a full crown, ceramic inlays and onlays offer a precise middle-ground restoration. They're custom-made to fit the exact shape of the damaged area, then bonded into place for a strong, long-lasting result.

The difference comes down to coverage:

• Inlay: Fills a cavity within the cusps (the raised points) of the tooth
• Onlay: Extends over one or more cusps to restore broader damage

Both are crafted from durable, tooth-colored ceramic that's designed to handle the everyday forces of chewing while looking like a natural part of your tooth. Inlays and onlays often last longer than direct composite fillings because of how precisely they're fabricated and bonded.

How We Diagnose Decay

Catching cavities early is everything. We use a combination of diagnostic tools to find decay before it becomes a bigger problem:

• High-resolution digital imaging through our advanced technology
• Intraoral cameras that let you see exactly what we see
• Visual exam and tactile evaluation during your routine cleaning and exam

If we identify decay early, treatment is faster, more conservative, and less expensive than waiting until symptoms develop.

Common Signs You May Need a Filling

Cavities don't always announce themselves with pain — especially in the early stages when treatment is simplest. Watch for:

• Sensitivity to hot or cold that's new or getting worse in a specific tooth
• A visible dark spot, discoloration, or hole in a tooth
• Pain when biting down or chewing on one side
• Food repeatedly catching in one spot between or on your teeth
• Rough or chipped edges you can feel with your tongue
• Persistent bad breath localized to one area, even after brushing

If any of these apply, an early exam can catch decay before it progresses to needing a ceramic crown, a root canal, or a tooth extraction. For urgent situations — significant pain, a broken filling, or a lost restoration — see our emergency dentistry page.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

A typical filling appointment takes 30 to 60 minutes from start to finish:

1. Numbing. Local anesthesia ensures you don't feel anything during the procedure. For smaller, early-stage cavities, we may be able to use drill-free dentistry — an air abrasion technique that often eliminates the need for numbing altogether.
2. Decay removal. We gently remove only the decayed tissue, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.
3. Restoration. Composite material is bonded and shaped, or a ceramic inlay/onlay is precisely fitted and cemented into place.
4. Polishing and bite check. We polish the restoration and verify your bite feels right before you leave.

Most patients return to normal eating and activities the same day, with little to no recovery time.

Preventing Future Cavities

The best filling is the one you never need. Routine prevention dramatically reduces your risk of decay:

• Twice-yearly cleanings and exams
• Fluoride treatments to strengthen enamel
• Dental sealants for added protection in deep grooves, especially for kids
• Good home hygiene — brushing twice daily and flossing once

Learn more about the team caring for your smile on the Meet the Doctors page.