About Tooth-Colored Fillings
A filling is the routine repair for a cavity, and today that repair should be invisible. At Regency Dental Group we place composite resin fillings, a tooth-colored material that is bonded directly to the tooth, shaped to match its natural contours, and hardened with a curing light. The result blends in so well that most patients cannot find their own fillings in the mirror.
Composite has advantages beyond appearance. Because it bonds to enamel and dentin, it lets Dr. Carter remove only the decayed portion of the tooth and preserve more healthy structure than the undercuts required by silver amalgam. The bond also helps seal the tooth and support the remaining walls. Composite contains no mercury, and it is the material used for most fillings in modern dental practice.
Many adults still have silver amalgam fillings placed decades ago. Amalgam is a durable material, and a sound amalgam filling does not need to be replaced simply because it is metal. But amalgam expands and contracts with temperature, and over years it can crack the surrounding tooth, leak at the margins, or hide decay beneath it. When an old metal filling is failing, or when a patient prefers a tooth-colored result, we replace it with composite or, for larger restorations, with a CEREC ceramic inlay or onlay.
Composite is also the material we use for cosmetic bonding to repair chips, close small gaps and cover discoloration, which means the same appointment that fixes a cavity can often improve the look of a front tooth. Fillings are usually completed in a single visit of 30 to 60 minutes, and most patients are back to their day with nothing more than a couple of hours of numbness.
Benefits
- Blends invisibly with your natural tooth color
- Mercury-free and bonded directly to the tooth
- Preserves more healthy tooth structure than metal fillings
- Completed in one visit
- Also used to replace failing silver fillings
Is it right for you?
Anyone with a new cavity, a chipped tooth, or an old amalgam filling that is cracked, leaking or bothering them cosmetically. Composite fillings work well for small to medium cavities on front and back teeth. Very large cavities, teeth with cracks, or teeth that have lost a cusp are usually better served by an onlay or crown, which Dr. Carter can often complete the same day with CEREC. Children age 3 and up receive tooth-colored fillings here as well.
What happens, step by step
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Diagnosis with an exam and X-ray
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Numbing of the tooth
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Removal of decay or the old filling
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Cleaning, bonding agent, and layered placement of composite
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Curing with light, shaping and polishing, and a bite check
What to expect at your visit
A filling appointment takes about 30 to 60 minutes depending on size and number. After numbing, Dr. Carter removes the decay, places the composite in thin layers, and hardens each layer with a blue curing light. He shapes and polishes the filling and checks your bite. Numbness lasts two to three hours; avoid chewing on that side until it wears off. Mild sensitivity to cold or pressure for a week or two is normal and fades as the tooth settles.
Why choose Regency Dental Group
Placing composite well is technique-sensitive: the tooth must be kept dry, the material layered and cured correctly, and the bite adjusted precisely. Dr. Carter and our assistants, several of whom are registered dental assistants with extended functions, do this many times a week. We show you the cavity on the intraoral camera before we start and the finished result after, so you see exactly what was done. Anxious patients can request a slower pace or oral sedation. Our office is in network with Delta Dental of California, Cigna, MetLife and Dental Benefit Providers, and most plans cover fillings as a basic service.
Aftercare
You can eat once the numbness wears off. If the filling feels high when you bite, call us for a quick adjustment rather than waiting for it to wear in. Brush and floss normally; composite fillings do not need special care but do benefit from the same preventive routine as the rest of your teeth.
Cost, insurance and timing
Most insurance plans cover composite fillings as a basic service, often at 70 to 80 percent after the deductible. Some plans pay only the amalgam rate for back teeth and leave a small difference for the patient; we check your plan and tell you before treatment. Replacing sound metal fillings for purely cosmetic reasons is elective and may not be covered.
Frequently asked questions
How long do tooth-colored fillings last?
Composite fillings typically last seven to ten years or more depending on size, location and habits like grinding. Regular checkups let us catch wear early.
Should I replace my silver fillings?
Only if they are cracked, leaking, decayed underneath or cosmetically bothersome. A sound amalgam filling does not need replacement just because it is metal.
Do fillings hurt?
The tooth is numbed and the procedure is comfortable. Some sensitivity for a week or two afterward is normal.
Are composite fillings safe?
Yes. Composite resin is the standard filling material in modern dentistry and contains no mercury.
The information on this page is general education, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Outcomes vary by patient. Please schedule an exam to discuss your specific situation.