Dental Fillings FAQs

Do I really need a dental filling for a small cavity?

Yes, once decay has broken through the enamel surface. Enamel does not regrow, so a cavitated lesion continues to enlarge and eventually reaches the nerve, at which point treatment becomes a root canal rather than a filling. Mint Dental Loft monitors and remineralizes early decay that has not yet cavitated, but restores it once the surface has broken.

Are dental fillings painful?

No. The tooth is numbed with local anesthetic before any decay is removed, so the procedure itself is not painful. Mild cold sensitivity for a few days afterward is normal, particularly on deeper fillings. Mint Dental Loft adjusts the bite before you leave, since a filling left high causes soreness when chewing.

How long does a dental filling appointment take?

A single filling appointment at Mint Dental Loft generally takes 30 to 60 minutes, covering anesthetic, decay removal, placement, and bite adjustment. Multiple fillings in the same quadrant are usually completed in one visit under a single injection.

How long will my dental filling last?

Composite fillings typically last seven to ten years and amalgam fillings ten to fifteen. Lifespan depends more on size and position than on material, since large fillings on biting surfaces carry more force. Mint Dental Loft checks existing fillings for wear, marginal breakdown, and recurrent decay at each recall visit.

Will my filling be noticeable?

No. Mint Dental Loft places tooth-colored composite fillings shade-matched to the surrounding tooth and polished flush with the surface. Composite bonds directly to the tooth, so it also requires less removal of healthy structure than silver amalgam did.

Can I eat normally after getting a filling?

Composite fillings are hardened with a curing light and reach full strength immediately, so you can eat as soon as the anesthetic wears off. Mint Dental Loft advises waiting until sensation returns to avoid biting your cheek or tongue. Expect mild cold sensitivity for a few days on deeper fillings.

Will my insurance cover a dental filling?

Fillings are classed as basic restorative treatment and dental plans commonly cover 70 to 80 percent after any deductible. Certain plans reimburse composite on back teeth only at the amalgam rate, leaving a small difference. Mint Dental Loft verifies your benefit and provides the exact figure before treatment.

What if I do not have dental insurance?

Mint Dental Loft provides a written cost before treatment begins and offers third-party financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Sunbit for patients who prefer to spread payment. Treating decay early keeps the cost low, since a filling is substantially less expensive than the root canal and crown required once decay reaches the nerve.

How do I know if a filling or another treatment is best?

The deciding factor is how much healthy tooth structure remains. A filling works while the surrounding walls of the tooth are intact; once roughly half the tooth is gone or the tooth is cracked, an inlay, onlay, or crown is needed to hold it together. Mint Dental Loft determines this from an examination and radiographs and explains the options before treatment.