Northern Smiles Dentistry Restorative
Tooth-Colored Fillings in North Phoenix, AZ
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Matched to Your Tooth
Composite is shaded to your own enamel and bonded in place, so a repaired tooth looks like a tooth. Nobody needs to know which one we worked on.
Less Tooth Removed
Composite bonds to the tooth, so we shape the cavity to remove decay rather than cutting extra structure to hold a filling in. More of your own tooth stays where it is.
Usually One Visit
Most fillings are done in a single appointment. If we find decay at a checkup, we will tell you what it needs and what it costs before booking anything.
The Basics
What a filling actually does
A cavity is decay that has broken through the enamel. It does not heal on its own and it does not stop. A filling removes the decayed tissue and restores the shape of the tooth so it can take chewing force again and so bacteria have nowhere to sit.
We use tooth-colored composite. It is bonded directly to the tooth, shaped and hardened in place, then polished so it matches the surface around it.
The best fillings are the small ones. A cavity caught at a routine cleaning and exam is a straightforward appointment. The same cavity a year later can need a crown or a root canal, which costs considerably more and takes longer.
What To Expect
What happens at the appointment
A straightforward filling usually takes under an hour.
Numbing
The area is numbed first. Tell us if you are anxious about this part — most people who dread injections have had a bad experience once, and it is worth us knowing.
Removing the decay
We remove the decayed tissue and clean the cavity, keeping as much healthy tooth as possible.
Placing the composite
The composite is bonded in layers, each one hardened with a curing light, and shaped to match the tooth.
Checking the bite
We check the filling against your bite and adjust it. A filling that sits high is the most common reason a tooth aches afterwards, so this step matters.
Afterwards
How long fillings last and what to watch for
Composite fillings commonly last many years. How long depends more on the tooth and the habits around it than on the material — a small filling in a front tooth outlives a large one in a molar that takes heavy grinding.
Some sensitivity to cold for a few days is normal. What is not normal is pain when you bite down, sensitivity that gets worse rather than better, or a rough edge you can catch with your tongue. Any of those, call us — a bite adjustment takes minutes.
If you grind your teeth, fillings wear and chip faster. A night guard protects the work you have already paid for.
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Normal
mild cold sensitivity for a few days after the appointment
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Call us
pain on biting, sensitivity that worsens, a rough or catching edge
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Protect it
a night guard if you grind, and keeping up regular cleanings so new decay is caught small
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a filling cost in Phoenix? +
It depends on the size of the cavity and which tooth it is in, so we quote after seeing the tooth. Fillings are a restorative treatment, so most PPO dental plans do contribute — bring your card to the first visit and we will check your benefits and tell you your share before we book the appointment, not after.
Does getting a filling hurt? +
The area is numbed first, so the appointment itself should not hurt. Most people find the anticipation worse than the procedure. If dental anxiety is why you have been putting this off, say so when you book — it changes how we pace the visit.
How do I know if I need a filling? +
Often you do not, which is the problem. Early decay usually causes no symptoms at all and is found on an exam or an x-ray. By the time a cavity is causing sensitivity or pain it is generally larger and needs more than a filling. That is the practical argument for routine checkups rather than waiting for something to hurt.
Can a cavity be reversed without a filling? +
Very early demineralization — before the enamel surface has broken — can sometimes be remineralised with fluoride and better home care, and we will tell you if that is where you are. Once decay has broken through the enamel it does not reverse, and waiting only means removing more tooth later.
Do you replace silver amalgam fillings? +
We can, and patients often ask about it for appearance. An old amalgam filling that is sound and sealed does not have to be replaced on our account. If it is cracked, leaking or has decay underneath it, that is a different conversation and we will show you what we are seeing.
Related reading
Answers to the questions patients ask us most about this treatment.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Troy Stansberry, D.D.S.
Dr. Troy Stansberry grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended Creighton University for his bachelors, and Creighton School of Dentistry for his D.D.S. degree.
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Feel free to contact us at Northern Smiles Dentistry with any questions or concerns
Opening Hours
- Monday 07:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 08:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Thursday 07:30 AM - 3:00 PM
- Friday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Saturday - Sunday Closed
