What is a composite filling?
Composite resin is a durable, mercury-free material that we shade-match to your natural tooth, sculpt into the prepared cavity, and harden with a curing light — all in a single visit. Unlike silver amalgam, composite bonds directly to your tooth structure, which means we remove less healthy tooth and the finished filling reinforces the tooth rather than just plugging it.
When we recommend composite fillings
- Repairing new cavities, front or back teeth
- Replacing old, failing, or unsightly silver fillings
- Fixing small chips and worn edges
- Closing minor gaps with cosmetic bonding
Comfortable and quick
A typical filling takes 30 to 60 minutes under local anesthesia. You can eat as soon as the numbness wears off — no waiting period like older materials required.
Frequently asked questions
Typically 7 to 10 years or more with good hygiene, and they can be repaired or replaced easily if they wear.
Not automatically. We recommend replacement when a silver filling is cracked, leaking, or has decay underneath — or when you'd simply like a natural-looking result.
No — the tooth is fully numbed first. Mild sensitivity for a few days afterward is normal and fades on its own.