Dental Fillings

A filling repairs a cavity that’s caught early. The dentist removes the decayed part of the tooth and fills the space, which seals the tooth so you can bite and chew on it again. It’s the most common procedure we do at our 30 offices. It usually takes under an hour, and for most patients, insurance covers it.

How do you know you need a filling?

Often you don’t. Small cavities have no symptoms, which is why we take bitewing x-rays at your checkup. They show decay between teeth and under old fillings before it can be seen or felt. The signs that show up later are a tooth that twinges with cold, sweet or hot food, a dark spot or a visible hole, food that keeps catching in one place, or a rough edge your tongue keeps finding. Pain that lingers or wakes you up usually means the decay has reached the nerve, and at that point a filling may no longer be enough (see root canals).

If something feels off and you don’t have a dentist, our $25 look-and-see visit covers an exam of the tooth, x-rays of that area and a written price for the fix.

Getting a filling, step by step

The dentist numbs the area with a local anesthetic. The injection is the part people dread, and we use a numbing gel on the gum first so you feel pressure rather than a pinch. Once the tooth is numb, the decay is removed with a small drill, the cavity is cleaned and shaped, and the filling material is placed in layers and hardened with a blue light. The dentist then checks your bite and polishes the filling. Start to finish, a single filling takes 20 to 40 minutes. If you need several, we’ll often do the ones on the same side of your mouth in one visit so you’re only numb once.

Tooth-colored fillings

We use composite resin fillings, the tooth-colored kind, for front and back teeth. The material is matched to the shade of your tooth, bonds directly to the enamel, and doesn’t require removing as much healthy tooth as the old silver fillings did. Most people can’t tell where the filling ends and the tooth begins. If you have older silver (amalgam) fillings, they don’t need to be replaced just because they’re silver. We replace them when they crack, leak or develop decay underneath.

After your filling

You’ll be numb for two to three hours. Don’t chew on that side until the feeling comes back, and be careful with hot drinks. Composite fillings are fully set when you leave, so once the numbness is gone you can eat normally. Mild sensitivity to cold for a week or two is normal, especially with deeper fillings. If your bite feels high, as if that tooth touches first when you close, call us. A 10-minute adjustment fixes it, and leaving it can make the tooth sore.

A well-placed filling lasts years. Making it last longer comes down to the usual habits: brush twice a day, floss, and keep up with cleanings so the edges of the filling get checked.

Paying for a filling

The fee depends on the size of the filling (how many surfaces of the tooth it covers) and which tooth. You’ll get the exact price on your treatment plan before anything starts.

Insurance: Most dental plans cover fillings at around 80% after the deductible. If you have MassHealth, fillings are covered for children and adults at all 15 of our Massachusetts offices. In Connecticut, HUSKY covers them for children and adults at all 10 of our offices, once every two years per tooth surface. We’re also in network with Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Altus, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, MetLife, Guardian and most other major plans. See our insurance pages for Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Jersey.

No insurance: Start with the $25 look-and-see visit or the $57 new patient cleaning, both on our specials page. If you need several fillings, you can spread the cost out with one of our monthly payment plans. Our page on what a visit costs without insurance has the details.

What happens if you wait

Decay doesn’t stop on its own. A small cavity that would take a 20-minute filling can, over a year or two, reach the nerve and need a root canal and a crown, at several times the cost and chair time. Or the weakened tooth cracks while you’re chewing. Getting the cavity filled now costs less than waiting.

Common questions about fillings

Does getting a filling hurt?

The tooth is numbed first, so you’ll feel vibration and pressure but not pain. We put a numbing gel on the gum before the injection. Afterward, mild cold sensitivity for a week or two is normal.

How long does a filling take?

20 to 40 minutes for one filling. Several fillings on the same side of the mouth are often done in one visit.

Can I eat after a filling?

Yes, once the numbness wears off (two to three hours). Composite fillings are hardened in the chair, so there’s no waiting period for the material itself.

Does MassHealth cover fillings?

Yes, for children and adults, at every Dr. Dental office in Massachusetts. For adults, fillings count toward the $1,750 yearly limit that starts August 1, 2026.

Does HUSKY cover fillings?

Yes, for children and adults, once every two years per tooth surface. All 10 Dr. Dental offices in Connecticut are HUSKY network providers.

Do you do white fillings on back teeth?

Yes. We use tooth-colored composite on molars as well as front teeth.

If you think you have a cavity, give your closest office a call or book a visit online. This page is also available en español.