Modern composite fillings that match your natural teeth, no silver, no mercury, just clean, durable cavity treatment.
Tooth-colored composite fillings are the modern standard for treating cavities. Made from a tooth-colored resin material, they bond directly to the tooth structure, restoring the tooth's appearance and function while preserving more healthy tooth structure than older filling materials required.
We are a metal-free practice. We do not place amalgam (silver/mercury) fillings. Composite fillings look like natural teeth, contain no mercury, and bond more conservatively, requiring less removal of healthy tooth structure during placement. Modern composites are also durable, capable of lasting 10-15 years with proper care.
Most fillings are completed in a single visit, typically 30-60 minutes per tooth. Local anesthesia keeps the procedure comfortable, the cavity is removed, the tooth is prepared, the composite is placed in layers, hardened with a curing light, and shaped to match your natural bite. You leave with a fully restored tooth that looks indistinguishable from the rest of your smile.
If you have older silver fillings and want them replaced with tooth-colored composite, we can handle that too, often at the same visit when other restorative work is being done. Many of our patients gradually transition older fillings to modern composite as part of long-term smile maintenance.
Composite fillings are not just cosmetic, they are clinically better in most situations.
Composite bonds directly to the tooth, requiring less removal of healthy tooth structure during placement. Amalgam fillings require mechanical retention, which means cutting more of the tooth away, even healthy parts, to hold the filling in place.
Amalgam fillings contain about 50 percent mercury by weight. While the FDA considers amalgam safe for most patients, many patients prefer to avoid mercury exposure entirely. Modern composites contain no mercury, no metals, and no concerning materials.
Composite fillings are matched to your tooth color and bonded seamlessly to the tooth surface. Most patients cannot tell where the filling ends and the tooth begins, even on close inspection. This matters more for visible front teeth, but it is also valued for back teeth.
Modern composite materials are significantly more durable than the composites of even ten years ago. With proper care, they typically last 10-15 years, comparable to amalgam, while preserving more tooth structure for the next restoration when one is eventually needed.
Cavities do not heal on their own. The longer they are untreated, the more damage they cause. Here are the signs that a filling is needed.
Cavities do not always cause pain in their early stages, which is why routine exams matter. Most cavities we treat are caught at routine visits before symptoms develop. Treating them early means a small, simple filling rather than a larger, more expensive procedure later.
Schedule a Visit
Most fillings take 30 to 60 minutes per tooth, completed in a single visit.
Local anesthesia is administered to numb the tooth and surrounding tissue. Most patients are fully comfortable within 5-10 minutes.
The decayed portion of the tooth is gently removed using modern handpieces. Only the cavity tissue is removed, healthy tooth structure stays intact.
The tooth is cleaned, dried, and prepared with a bonding agent that allows the composite to adhere directly to the tooth surface.
The composite material is placed in thin layers, each hardened with a special light. Color is matched to your natural tooth shade for a seamless appearance.
The filling is shaped to match your natural tooth contours and bite, then polished smooth. Bite is checked and adjusted as needed before you leave.
Fillings are the most common restorative procedure. Here are the questions patients ask most often.
Ask a QuestionModern composite fillings typically last 10-15 years with proper home care, comparable to amalgam fillings. Lifespan depends on the size of the filling, location in the mouth (back teeth experience more chewing force), and your home care routine. Smaller fillings often last longer than larger ones, and patients who maintain good oral hygiene see longer-lasting results.
No. Local anesthesia numbs the tooth and surrounding tissue completely before any work begins. Most patients feel pressure and vibration during cavity removal but no pain. The most uncomfortable part is usually the initial injection of anesthetic, which we minimize with topical numbing gel and slow injection technique. Sedation options are available for patients with significant anxiety.
Cavities often do not cause pain in their early stages, which is when treatment is simplest and most conservative. By the time a cavity hurts, it has typically reached the inner layers of the tooth and may need more extensive treatment, sometimes a root canal or crown rather than just a filling. Treating cavities early means a smaller, simpler procedure.
Yes, and many patients gradually do this over time. We do not recommend replacing silver fillings simply for cosmetic reasons unless they show signs of failure (cracking, leaking, recurrent decay around the edges). When replacement is needed, we use composite material, completing the transition to a metal-free smile. We can replace older fillings during the same visit as other restorative work to minimize appointments.
Filling cost depends on the size and location of the filling and how many surfaces of the tooth are involved. Most dental insurance plans cover composite fillings, often at 70-80 percent of the cost. We verify your specific benefits before treatment and provide a clear cost breakdown. CareCredit financing is available for patients without insurance or with significant out-of-pocket costs.
Brush twice daily, floss daily, and visit us every six months for cleanings. Avoid biting hard objects (ice, pens, fingernails) that can chip or crack fillings. If you grind your teeth, a custom night guard protects your fillings (and your natural teeth) from excessive wear. Most patients can eat normally immediately after the anesthesia wears off, typically 1-3 hours after the appointment.
Multiple cavities can often be treated in a single appointment if they are in adjacent teeth or the same area of the mouth. Treating multiple fillings in one visit means less total time in our chair, fewer separate appointments, and less travel for you. We discuss the optimal treatment sequencing at your evaluation, weighing comfort, time, and cost considerations.
Yes. Children receive the same composite filling material as adults at our practice. We are a metal-free office for kids and adults. Pediatric fillings often heal faster and last longer than adult fillings because younger teeth tend to have stronger enamel and bone support. We offer sedation options for kids with significant anxiety.
Fillings are routine, but the difference between rushed dentistry and careful work matters for how long your filling lasts.
We do not place amalgam (silver/mercury) fillings. Every filling at our practice is tooth-colored composite, including replacements of older silver fillings.
Even back teeth fillings are matched carefully to your natural tooth shade and contoured to fit your bite. Dr. Hadis Reyhani brings cosmetic-level attention to routine restorative work.
We explain what is happening at every step in your preferred language, English or Spanish, including what to expect during anesthesia, the procedure, and aftercare.
Sedation options for anxious patients. Topical numbing before injections. Slow, gentle technique. We treat fillings as small procedures that deserve careful attention, not assembly-line work.
Routine preventive care that catches cavities early, when fillings are smallest and simplest.
Learn moreWhen a cavity is too large for a filling, a crown restores full strength and protects the tooth.
Learn moreWhen decay reaches the nerve, root canal therapy saves the tooth before extraction is needed.
Learn moreNew patients welcome. Same-week appointments available for most visits.
