Tooth Fillings in Millbury

What a filling does and when it's the right fix

A filling replaces the part of a tooth that decay has eaten away. We remove the soft, damaged spot, then rebuild the tooth so it seals out bacteria and handles chewing again. It's the right call when the damage is small to medium and enough healthy tooth is left around it.

What goes into the tooth matters more than most people think. Tooth-colored composite bonds to the tooth and blends in. Glass ionomer releases a little fluoride and works well near the gumline. Silver amalgam is what many older fillings are made of. Each one wears, looks and holds up differently, so we explain the trade-offs before we start.

When a cavity is too big for a filling to hold, we'll say so. A crown may be the better answer then, and you can read about that on our Crowns & Bridges page.

What your filling visit includes

A close look first

We check the tooth and take an X-ray if we need to see how deep the decay goes. That tells us whether a filling will do the job.

A material talk, in plain words

We go over the options for that tooth and tell you which one we'd pick and why. A front tooth and a back molar often need different answers.

Numbing that's done slowly

We numb the area gently and wait until it takes. If you still feel something, tell us and we stop.

Decay removed, tooth rebuilt

We take out only the damaged part and keep as much healthy tooth as we can. Then we place the filling in thin layers and harden each one.

A bite check before you go

We have you bite down and adjust any high spot. A filling that sits even a little too high can make the tooth sore for days.

Signs a tooth may need a filling

• A twinge with cold or sweets

  A short, sharp zing when you drink something cold or eat candy often means the enamel has a weak spot.

• Pain when you bite

  If one tooth hurts when you chew, decay or a cracked filling may be letting pressure reach the nerve.

• A dark spot or a hole

  Brown, gray or black spots on the chewing surface are worth a look. So is a pit your tongue keeps finding.

• Food keeps catching

  Floss that shreds or food that packs into the same gap can point to a cavity between teeth.

• An old filling that's breaking down

  Chipped edges, a dark line around an old silver filling, or a piece that fell out all mean the seal is gone and decay can get underneath.

How the appointment runs

1. 1

   Check and plan

   We look at the tooth, confirm the cavity and agree with you on what the filling will be made of. No surprises once the drilling starts.

2. 2

   Numb and clean out

   After the area is numb, we remove the decay and shape the space so the filling has something solid to hold onto.

3. 3

   Place and harden

   Composite goes in layer by layer, and a blue light sets each one in seconds. Glass ionomer sets on its own. We shape it to match how your teeth meet.

4. 4

   Polish and go

   We smooth the surface, check your bite and send you on your way. Most people go back to their day right after, just a bit numb for a few hours.

What moves the cost of a filling

Every filling is priced by the tooth, so we give you the cost once we've seen it. We accept most dental insurance plans, and we'll go over what your plan is likely to cover. If you don't have insurance, ask about our Office Dental Plan for patients without insurance, or the CareCredit Patient Payment Plan.

Size of the cavity

A small pit on one surface takes less time and less filling than decay that wraps around two or three sides of a tooth.

The material you choose

Composite takes more time to place than older options because it goes in layers and must stay dry. Some insurance plans pay a different amount for tooth-colored fillings on back teeth.

Which tooth it is

Back molars are harder to reach and keep dry. Front teeth need careful shading so the filling doesn't show.

Replacing an old filling

Taking out an old filling and any decay under it adds work. Sometimes we find more damage than the X-ray showed, and we'll tell you before going further.