Services
Fillings
A filling repairs a tooth that has a cavity or a worn or chipped spot. It is the smallest of the three repairs, and for a small cavity it is often the one that fits.
The decayed part is removed and the space is filled with a tooth-colored material, shaped to your bite. Dr. Xiao will show you the tooth and tell you whether a filling is enough or whether a larger repair would suit it better.
What happens
A filling is usually one visit of about an hour. Dr. Xiao tells you what to expect for your tooth.
- 01
Step 1: Look and X-ray
She examines the tooth and takes an X-ray only if she needs one.
- 02
Step 2: Numb the area
We numb the tooth and the gum around it before we start.
- 03
Step 3: Remove and fill
She removes the decay, places the material in layers and hardens each layer with a blue light.
- 04
Step 4: Check the bite
You bite on thin paper and she shapes the filling until it feels right.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
We numb the area before we start. If you feel anything, tell us and we stop and numb more. You can ask for a break at any time.
If you wait
A small cavity tends to grow. A larger one may need an inlay or a crown instead of a filling, which takes more visits and costs more. Dr. Xiao tells you what she sees and how soon it matters.
Risks and aftercare
The tooth can be sensitive to cold or to biting for a few days, and the numbness lasts a few hours, so wait to chew until it fades. Call us if the bite feels high or the ache gets worse instead of better.
How it is billed
A filling is billed as a filling. You get a written estimate before we start. The fees page explains insurance, receipts and paying yourself.
How fees work
Questions about fillings
Which filling material do you use?
Tooth-colored resin for most teeth. Dr. Xiao explains the options for yours, including when a different kind of repair would fit better.
Can I eat after a filling?
Wait until the numbness fades so you don't bite your cheek or tongue. Then chew as usual, and tell us if the bite feels high.
How do I know if I need a filling or something larger?
Size and position decide. A cavity that has taken a wall of the tooth is usually too wide for a filling. The comparison on the home page shows how the three repairs differ.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Lin Xiao, DDS, general dentist, licensed in West Virginia. She looks at the tooth, explains the options and gives you the estimate in writing.