Repair Cavities Without Sacrificing Your Smile
Cavities are one of the most common dental problems, and treating them early is the key to keeping your teeth strong and healthy. When decay is caught in its early stages, a simple filling can stop it from spreading and restore the tooth’s shape and function. Waiting too long can allow the cavity to reach the inner layers of the tooth, leading to pain, infection, and more extensive treatment.
At New Face Dentistry, our dental team uses composite fillings, also known as tooth-colored or white fillings, to repair cavities with results that look completely natural. Composite resin is shade-matched to your tooth, so no one will see dark metal when you smile, laugh, or talk. Patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and across Atlanta choose composite fillings for discreet, durable cavity repair completed in a single, comfortable visit.
Schedule Your Cavity TreatmentWhat Are Composite Fillings?
Composite fillings are made from a durable, tooth-colored resin material composed of plastic and fine glass particles. The material is applied in thin layers directly to the prepared tooth, shaped to match its natural contours, and hardened with a special curing light.
Because composite resin bonds directly to the tooth structure, it helps support and strengthen the remaining tooth. It’s also highly versatile. Beyond treating cavities, composite material can repair small chips, close minor gaps, and restore worn tooth surfaces.
Signs You May Need a Filling
Cavities don’t always cause pain in their early stages, which is why regular exams are so important. However, you may need a filling if you notice:
- Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks
- A sharp or lingering ache when biting or chewing
- A visible hole, pit, or dark spot on a tooth
- White, brown, or black staining on the tooth surface
- Food frequently getting stuck in the same spot
- A rough or broken edge you can feel with your tongue
- An old filling that’s cracked, worn, or falling out
Even without symptoms, our dental team can detect early decay during your routine cleaning and exam using visual checks and digital X-rays.
Why Treating Cavities Early Matters
Tooth decay is progressive, which means it gets worse over time without treatment. A cavity starts in the outer enamel, then moves into the softer dentin layer beneath it. If left untreated, it can reach the pulp at the center of the tooth, where the nerve and blood vessels are located.
Once decay reaches the pulp, a simple filling may no longer be enough. The tooth may need root canal therapy, a same-day crown, or in severe cases, an extraction. Treating cavities while they’re small is faster, more comfortable, and less costly than waiting.
Placing Your Composite Filling, Layer by Layer
Getting a composite filling is a quick and straightforward procedure. Most fillings take less than an hour, and you can return to your normal routine right afterward. Here’s what happens during your appointment:
Replacing Old Silver Fillings
Many adults still have silver amalgam fillings from years past. Over time, these metal fillings can wear down, crack, or pull away from the tooth, allowing bacteria to seep underneath. Some patients also simply prefer a more natural look.
If your old fillings are damaged, leaking, or causing sensitivity, our dental team can safely remove them and restore your teeth with tooth-colored composite. We’ll evaluate each filling and recommend replacement only when it benefits your oral health or achieves your cosmetic goals.
Benefits of Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings
Composite fillings offer a number of advantages that make them the preferred choice for many Atlanta patients:
- Natural appearance: Fillings are shade-matched to blend in with your tooth, making them virtually invisible.
- Conservative treatment: Composite bonds directly to the tooth, so less healthy structure needs to be removed.
- Strengthens the tooth: The bonding process helps support the remaining tooth and reduce the risk of fractures.
- Mercury-free material: Composite resin contains no metal or mercury.
- Less temperature sensitivity: Composite doesn’t expand and contract with hot and cold the way metal can.
- Completed in one visit: Most fillings are placed and hardened in a single appointment.
- Versatile: Composite can be used on front and back teeth and can also repair chips and minor damage.
Stop Tooth Decay in Its Tracks
Don’t let a small cavity turn into a bigger problem. Tooth-colored composite fillings repair the damage quickly and comfortably while keeping your smile looking natural. Our dental team welcomes patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and throughout Atlanta to our office at 700 Morosgo Dr NE, Suite J-100.
Call 404-262-9600 or request an appointment online to schedule your cavity treatment.
Request an AppointmentFAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are tooth-colored fillings made from a blend of resin and fine glass particles. They’re used to repair cavities, chips, and minor tooth damage while matching the natural color of your teeth. The material bonds directly to the tooth, which helps support its structure. At our Atlanta office, composite fillings are placed in a single visit and hardened with a curing light.
Composite fillings typically last 7 to 10 years or longer with good care. Their lifespan depends on the size and location of the filling, your oral hygiene, and habits like teeth grinding or chewing hard objects. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups help your fillings last as long as possible. Our team checks every filling during your routine exams.
Getting a filling shouldn’t hurt. Our dental team numbs the tooth and surrounding area with local anesthetic before removing any decay, so you’ll feel only mild pressure or vibration. Some patients notice slight sensitivity to hot or cold for a few days afterward, which is normal and fades on its own. If sensitivity lingers, call our office so we can check your bite.
Most composite filling appointments take less than an hour, depending on the size and number of cavities being treated. Small fillings may take as little as 20 to 30 minutes. Because composite hardens immediately with a curing light, there’s no waiting period before your tooth is ready. You can return to work or school right after your visit.
Yes. Composite fillings are fully hardened before you leave our office, so you can eat as soon as the numbness wears off. Waiting until feeling returns helps you avoid accidentally biting your cheek, lip, or tongue. If your tooth feels slightly sensitive, start with soft foods and avoid very hot or cold items for a day or two.
Yes. If your silver amalgam fillings are worn, cracked, leaking, or causing sensitivity, our dental team can replace them with natural-looking composite fillings. Many patients also choose replacement to improve the appearance of their smile. We’ll evaluate each filling and recommend replacement only when it makes sense for your oral health and goals. Patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and across Atlanta often update old fillings during routine visits.
You may need a filling if you have tooth sensitivity, pain when biting, a visible hole or dark spot, or food that keeps getting stuck in the same place. However, many cavities cause no symptoms early on. That’s why regular exams and digital X-rays are so important for catching decay before it becomes painful. Our team will let you know if any teeth need treatment.
Most PPO dental insurance plans cover fillings as a basic restorative service, often at a significant percentage. Some plans cover composite fillings on back teeth at the same rate as silver fillings, which may leave a small difference for you to pay. Our Atlanta team will verify your benefits before treatment and explain any out-of-pocket costs. Smile Club members also save up to 15% on most treatments.
Yes. Composite fillings are considered safe and are widely used by dentists around the world. They’re mercury-free and bond directly to the tooth, which helps preserve healthy structure. Some patients ask about BPA in dental materials. Research shows any potential exposure from composite fillings is extremely low. Our dental team is happy to answer questions about the materials we use.
