Service / Fillings
When does a filling actually fix it?
Composite fillings repair a tooth that has small to medium decay. We bond rather than fill so the tooth stays as much itself as possible. If the damage is more than a third of the tooth, we will tell you straight that a crown is the better long-term choice.
Scope · in writing
What this service is, and what it is not.
What we do
- Composite (tooth-coloured) bonding for every filling.
- Remove only the soft, decayed dentin; leave healthy tooth alone.
- Show you the before-and-after on the intraoral camera.
- Tell you up front when a crown is the better long-term call.
What we do NOT do
- Amalgam (silver) fillings. We have not used them since 2019.
- Replace fillings that look fine on the X-ray just because they are old.
- Drill deeper than we have to.
Question 01
How do you know when a filling is enough?
We look at the X-ray, we look at the tooth, and we measure the depth of the cavity. If the wall of the tooth still has at least two-thirds of itself, a filling holds. If the cavity has eaten into more than that, a crown is going to last longer than a filling will.
Question 02
Why composite instead of amalgam?
Composite bonds to the tooth rather than just sitting in it. It looks like a tooth, expands and contracts at the same rate as the tooth, and holds up well to normal chewing. Amalgam is cheaper but it puts stress on the wall of the tooth over time. We picked composite as the default in 2019.
Question 03
Does it hurt?
The freezing is the part you feel. Most fillings need one carpule, sometimes two for a molar. After the freezing kicks in, the drilling itself is pressure, not pain. The freezing wears off about two hours later.
Question 04
Will my insurance pay for it?
Most plans cover composite fillings on front teeth at the regular fee. Some plans cap composite on back teeth at the amalgam rate, which means a $30 to $60 patient portion. Karen runs your plan before the appointment so you know before you sign.
The visit · before, during, after
How the appointment runs.
- Step 1
Before
Eat lightly two hours before. The freezing makes lunch awkward. Bring earbuds if the drill bothers you.
- Step 2
During
Forty-five minutes for most teeth. Freezing, isolation, gentle removal of decay, bonded composite, polish, bite check.
- Step 3
After
Avoid hot food until the freezing wears off (about two hours). Normal eating after that. Slight sensitivity to cold for a few days is normal.
Whose chair
Dr. Maya Subramanian
Owner. General dentist.
Maya does most of the adult restorations. James does the same procedure for kids.
Opened the practice in 2014.
More about MayaBooking · cost first, always
Ready to start?
Schedule a checkup first; we diagnose fillings on the standard recall, then book the appointment if you need one.