Tooth-Colored Fillings

When your tooth’s structure is in jeopardy because of a cavity, tooth-colored fillings are needed to restore your tooth’s function. By sealing off the cavity, you’re preventing the tooth decay from spreading and causing more serious damage to your smile’s beauty and function, which could lead to more expensive treatments.
At Midtown Dental Excellence, our Midtown Manhattan dental office only uses tooth-colored fillings for beautiful and long-lasting results and can catch early signs of a cavity through your biannual comprehensive exams. You may need a filling if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:
Why Tooth-Colored Fillings Over Metal Fillings?
The materials in tooth-colored fillings are safe and do not pose a health risk. However, metal fillings are known as mercury fillings. There are concerns about the possible dangers of the use of mercury that are found in these fillings.

Metal-free fillings: A puzzle piece in a comprehensive plan to get you healthy.
Midtown Dental Excellence isn’t a “drill and fill” practice. As fellow New Yorkers, we’re committed to your health and well-being by combining the latest dental equipment, innovative techniques, and collaborative care to give you the best dental care available.
Our dental specialists have the knowledge and expertise to produce high-quality fillings and provide the highest quality dental care to keep you smiling for years to come. We invite you to schedule your first appointment with us, and you’ll see firsthand our dedication to get you healthy.
- Actual Happy Patient
Have Questions About Tooth-Colored Fillings?
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How long does it take to get a dental filling?
The quick answer? It depends. Many factors can determine how long it will take to get a filling:
- The size of the cavity
- The location of the cavity
- How many fillings do you need?
During your comprehensive exam with us, we’ll discuss these factors with and tell you how long it will take to get your smile healthy.
The reason it takes a little longer to receive a tooth-colored filling is the composite resin material is painted on your tooth and then hardened with a unique light. We do ask patients to dedicate at least an hour for a filling.
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Do fillings hurt?
With local anesthesia, getting a dental filling shouldn’t hurt. Our experts will gently numb the area before starting the procedure. If you’re nervous about the needle, we can also numb the injection site before injecting the anesthesia. After getting your dental filling, you may experience sensitivity; however, it’s quite normal and should go away quickly. Ask us about our amenities to make the treatment even more comfortable for you.
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How many fillings can be done at once?
In reality, there isn’t a limit to how many fillings our dentists can do at once. For example, if you have multiple cavities in one area, we’re able to get it all done at once.
It all depends on multiple factors:
- How long can you be at the office?
- Can you leave your mouth open for an extended period?
- How much anesthetic can we administer safely?
No matter how many fillings you need, we’re confident our team can strategize a plan fitting your needs.
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Can I eat after getting a filling?
Absolutely! Tooth-colored fillings are very strong, allowing you to eat right after the procedure. We do recommend avoiding crunchy, hard, or sticky foods right after the procedure. It’s also a good idea to resume eating when the local anesthetic wears off because it can be difficult to eat when lips and mouth are numb.