For anyone who has put off a cavity: calm, no-pressure care in Downers Grove and Lemont, with sedation if you want it. At Dentique Dental Care you can have a cavity treated with no judgment and with calm options like nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation.
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A dental filling is a material that replaces the decayed part of a tooth, so it repairs the cavity and restores the tooth to work and feel normal again. The dentist removes the area of tooth decay and fills the space that is left, which is why it is one of the most common treatments in restorative dentistry. A composite, or tooth-colored, filling is made to match the shade of your tooth, so the repair blends in rather than standing out.
A cavity often gives early signs like tooth sensitivity to sweet, hot, or cold, a rough or catching spot you feel with your tongue, or a small dark speck on the tooth, and catching it early usually means a simpler, smaller filling. None of these are a reason for shame, and a dentist confirms a cavity with a dental exam and, when it is needed, an X-ray.
To sweet, hot, or cold.
A spot you feel with your tongue.
A visible speck, or a dull ache.
A tooth-colored composite filling matches the shade of your tooth and bonds directly to it, which is why most people choose it for a visible tooth. Silver amalgam is more durable and less costly, but easier to see, so it is used more often on back teeth. The material is your decision, and the ADA is clear that you have the right to choose between filling options.
| Material | Looks like | Best for | Typical national cost per tooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth-colored composite | Blends with the tooth | A visible tooth | $173 to $439 |
| Silver amalgam | Visible, silver | Back teeth | $108 to $256 |
| Glass ionomer | Tooth-colored | Smaller repairs or the gumline | Varies |
Cost figures are a national range from CareCredit, not a Dentique price. For a larger area of damage, a dentist may suggest an inlay or an onlay, a custom-made restoration fitted to the tooth.
Getting a filling usually takes one visit: the dentist numbs the tooth, removes the decay, places the filling, and shapes it so your bite feels right. The numbing comes first, using a local anesthetic, so the tooth is fully numb before any of the work starts.
With a local anesthetic, before any work starts.
Clear the decayed area from the tooth.
Place and bond the composite filling.
Shape and polish the filling.
Check your bite, or occlusion, so nothing feels high.
With a composite filling, you can usually eat once the numbness wears off.
A filling is done with the tooth fully numbed, so you should not feel pain during it, and if you feel anxious, nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation can keep you calm the whole time. During the filling itself there should be no hurt, just some pressure or movement. Sedation here is an option we offer, not something we push.
The tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic first.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or oral conscious sedation, to help you stay comfortable.
If you still feel nervous, tell us when you book. We can go at your pace, explain each step before it happens, and arrange nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation so you are calm and comfortable. You will not be rushed, and you will not be judged for how long it has been.
A filling does not last forever, but many tooth-colored fillings last several years, and how long yours lasts depends on its size, the tooth it is in, and your daily care. What changes the timeline is the size of the filling, which tooth it is in, whether you grind your teeth, and your oral hygiene at home. We will not promise you a set number of years, because that depends on your mouth, but we will tell you honestly what to expect.
The cost of a filling depends on the material and the size of the cavity, and nationally a tooth-colored composite filling commonly runs about $173 to $439 per tooth, while Dentique confirms your exact price in writing before any treatment. Most PPO dental insurance plans cover some or all of a filling.
Tooth-colored composite
National range, not a Dentique price.
Silver amalgam
National range, not a Dentique price.
Depends on
National range, not a Dentique price.
We work with most major PPO plans, including Delta Dental, MetLife, Cigna, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Guardian, and Humana. Financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Sunbit.
Dentique Dental Care is built around one dentist, Dr. Xhelo Shuaipaj DDS FDOCS FICOI, with more than 30 years of experience, which is why many patients have stayed for 15, 20, even 25 years, including people who had avoided the dentist for a long time. Seeing the same dentist each visit means you are not re-explaining your history to a stranger every time.
The same dentist at both offices.
Including people who had avoided the dentist.
Rated 4.9, judgment-free and no pressure.
Filling a cavity is usually cheaper than pulling a tooth and replacing it. An extraction can look like the low-cost option up front, but once you add the cost of replacing the tooth with an implant or a bridge, keeping your own tooth with a filling is generally both cheaper and better for your long-term health.
You can usually eat right after a filling once the numbness wears off. With a tooth-colored composite filling, it is set before you leave, so waiting for the numb feeling to fade is mainly so you do not bite your cheek or tongue by accident.
Most dentists today use tooth-colored composite fillings for visible teeth. A composite filling matches the shade of the tooth and bonds to it, while silver amalgam is still used in some cases, usually on back teeth.
A permanent tooth filling is not something to attempt at home. A pharmacy temporary filling can cover a tooth for a short time if you are waiting to be seen, but only a dentist can properly clean out the decay and seal the tooth. If a tooth is bothering you, call us rather than waiting.
Dr. Xhelo Shuaipaj, DDS, FDOCS, FICOI is the dentist at Dentique Dental Care, with more than 30 years of experience, and he reviews the clinical information on this page. His credentials include a DDS, an FDOCS (Fellow of DOCS Education, sedation), and an FICOI (Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists). He treats patients at both the Downers Grove and Lemont offices.
Sometimes a tooth needs more than a filling, and if decay has gone deeper, a crown, a root canal, or a replacement may be the better fix. Whatever your tooth needs, the next step is the same simple one.
For a tooth too damaged for a filling.
Learn more
For decay that reaches the nerve.
Learn more
For pain that will not wait.
Learn more
Booking a filling at Dentique Dental Care starts with a no-pressure consult, not a sales pitch, so you will be greeted, your options and price explained in writing, and sedation is there if you want it. The first visit is about understanding what your tooth needs and what it will cost, at your pace.
Downers Grove (630) 454-9299
Lemont (630) 685-0017
Judgment-free. Sedation available. Your price confirmed in writing.
Get the smile you deserve today!