Home/Services/Fillings

Restorative Care · St. Clair, MO

A cavity caught early,
fixed in
under an hour.

When we catch a cavity at a cleaning, a filling is quick, comfortable, and usually done in the same visit. Modern composite fillings match your tooth's color exactly — once in, they're invisible. Most appointments take 30–60 minutes start to finish.

Book an Appointment

A healthy, natural smile after a tooth-colored filling

30-60min

Typical appointment

For 1–2 fillings

7-10yrs

Typical lifespan

For composite fillings with good care

80-100%

Covered by most PPO

Usually one of the best-covered procedures

Sameday

As your exam

We can often do it right after diagnosis

A standard filling,
explained.

Fillings are the most common dental procedure. Here's exactly what happens during yours.

Numbing · 5 min

We apply a topical gel to the gum (so you don't feel the injection), then administer local anesthetic. The area goes numb within a few minutes.

Remove decay · 15-20 min

Using a small drill, we remove the decayed portion of the tooth. What's left is healthy tooth structure that will support the filling. We remove only what's necessary — nothing more.

Clean & prep · 5 min

The cavity is cleaned and conditioned so the composite material bonds strongly to the tooth. For larger fillings, we may place a thin liner to protect the nerve.

Place the filling · 10-15 min

Tooth-colored composite resin is placed in layers, each cured with a bright blue light. The doctor sculpts it to match your tooth's natural anatomy — ridges, grooves, and all.

Bite check & polish · 5 min

We check your bite with colored paper. Any high spots get adjusted. Final polishing leaves the filling smooth and lustrous, matching the surrounding enamel.

You're done

Numbness lasts 1–3 hours. Avoid chewing on that side until the numbness wears off (so you don't bite your cheek). You can eat and drink normally after that.

Catch it early,
save the tooth.

Benefit 01

Small cavities stay small

A cavity caught at a cleaning might be 2–3mm deep and take 20 minutes to fix. The same cavity caught 12 months later could be into the nerve — a $200 filling becomes a $1,800 root canal plus crown.

Benefit 02

Tooth-colored composite

We no longer use silver amalgam for most fillings. Modern composite resin matches your tooth's exact shade — once placed, no one can tell you've had work done.

Benefit 03

Same-day convenience

If we find a cavity during your cleaning and we have time in the schedule, we can often do the filling right then. No second trip, no waiting.

Benefit 04

Strong bond to tooth

Unlike old-style amalgam, composite fillings chemically bond to the tooth. This strengthens the tooth and uses less drilling — we can preserve more of your natural structure.

Benefit 05

Safe for all ages

We place composite fillings for children as young as 4 and adults of any age. The process is the same, just scaled to the patient.

When to come in

If it hurts, it's late.

Most early cavities cause no symptoms. By the time a tooth is sensitive to cold or hurts when you chew, decay has usually reached the pulp — meaning a simple filling may not be enough. This is why twice-a-year cleanings catch things you can't feel.

Questions
we hear often.

Does getting a filling hurt?

The injection feels like a mild pinch for a second. After that, you'll feel pressure and vibration from the drill, but no pain. If you feel anything sharp, tell us — we'll add more anesthetic. Most patients say fillings are "much easier than I expected."

How long until I can eat?

Wait until the numbness wears off — 1 to 3 hours, depending on the anesthetic used. Composite fillings are fully hardened when you leave, so you can eat anything. Most people just wait out the numbness to avoid accidentally biting their cheek.

Why does my filling feel "tall"?

The anesthetic makes it hard to judge your natural bite during placement. If a filling feels high after the numbness wears off, call us — we'll bring you back for a 5-minute bite adjustment. This is common and easily fixed.

Do you still use silver (amalgam) fillings?

Rarely. We use tooth-colored composite resin for virtually all fillings. The few exceptions are specific cases (usually back molars with very specific structural needs) where amalgam is still the best choice. We'll explain if that's you — it almost always isn't.

How much does a filling cost?

With insurance: usually $20–$100 out of pocket, depending on plan. Without insurance: $150–$250 for a single-surface filling, more for larger fillings that cover multiple surfaces of the tooth. We'll give you a written estimate before any work.

My old filling fell out. What do I do?

Call us — we'll get you in soon, usually within a few days. Don't chew on that side and keep the area clean. A lost filling isn't an emergency unless you're in pain or the tooth is sharp — if either, call us right away and we'll try for same-day.

While you're here.

Preventive

Teeth Cleaning

Catch cavities before they grow.

Restorative

Dental Crowns

When a filling won't hold up.

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All Services

Everything we offer, in one place.

Think you've got a cavity?
We'll take a look.

Book an exam. If we find a cavity and you've got the time, we can often fill it the same day. No hidden costs — we give you a written estimate before we start.