general dentistry
Fillings: small fix now, or big fix later.
A filling removes decay and rebuilds the tooth with tooth-colored composite — one visit, numb throughout, invisible when you smile. This is a mercury-free practice: composite resin, matched to your tooth's shade, bonded rather than wedged.
The economics are the honest pitch: the cavity you fill this month is the root canal and crown you don't buy next year. Decay never negotiates; it only compounds.
The visit, plainly
Numb first — verified numb, with the raise-your-hand rule in force. The decay comes out, the tooth is conditioned, and composite goes in layered and light-cured, then shaped and polished to your bite. Most single fillings run well under an hour.
You can eat when the numbness fades. Mild temperature sensitivity for a few days is normal; sensitivity to biting that persists means the bite needs a two-minute adjustment — call, come in, done.
About old metal fillings
Sound amalgam fillings don't need replacing on principle — swapping metal for cosmetics alone is a conversation about your goals, not a medical emergency, and you'll get that framing honestly. But old fillings do wear out: cracked, leaking, or lifting at the edges, they let decay restart underneath.
That's what exams watch for. When an old filling is failing, you'll see it on the screen, with the repair options and prices before anything is scheduled.
What to expect after the numbness
Composite fillings are fully hardened before you leave the chair — you can chew on them as soon as the numbness wears off. Until it does, be careful not to bite your lip, cheek, or tongue; numb tissue is easy to injure without noticing.
Some sensitivity to pressure, heat, or cold is normal for a few days, and the injection site may feel a little sore — over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen usually covers it. If sensitivity lasts beyond a week or worsens, call us and we will check the bite.
Questions we hear in the chair
- How long does a filling last?
- Composite fillings typically run seven to ten years and more, depending on size, location, and grinding habits. Small ones in low-stress spots last longest — one more argument for filling early.
- Will it hurt afterward?
- A few days of mild cold sensitivity is common and fades. Pain on biting that doesn't fade means the filling sits a hair high — a quick, free adjustment, so call rather than tough it out.
- Why did I get a cavity if nothing hurt?
- Cavities are painless until they're deep — by the time a tooth aches, filling territory is usually behind you. That's the entire case for exams on schedule: catching them in the cheap, silent stage.
- What does a filling cost?
- It scales with size and surfaces involved, and most insurance covers fillings well. The figure comes before treatment, not on the way out.
Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.
Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday.