GENERAL DENTISTRY
Tooth-Colored Dental Fillings
Repair cavities and damaged teeth with tooth-colored composite fillings designed to restore strength while blending naturally with your smile.
★★★★★
Read Reviews
Serving Patients Since 2012
Restoring Smiles
With Personalized, Thoughtful Care
Credentials
Completing Accreditation
Quick Answer
A dental filling at Marta Rudat DDS in Tustin, CA repairs a cavity in one visit, usually in 30 to 60 minutes. We use tooth-colored composite matched to your enamel, priced at $150 to $450 per filling, with most PPO plans covering a large share. You'll have the cost in writing at your exam, and Dr. Rudat does the work herself.
The Visit
What happens when you get a filling.
A tooth-colored filling removes decay and rebuilds the damaged portion of the tooth with composite resin.
01
Numb the tooth
Local anesthetic is used to keep you comfortable while the tooth is treated.
02
Remove the decay
Dr. Rudat removes the damaged tooth structure and prepares the area for the restoration.
03
Build the tooth back
Tooth-colored composite resin is placed and hardened with a curing light.
04
Shape, check & polish
The restoration is shaped, your bite is checked, and the filling is polished smooth.
How long does a filling take?
A single filling can often be completed in one visit. Treatment time varies with the size and location of the cavity and the complexity of the restoration.
The composite is hardened with a curing light before you leave the chair.
Composite vs. Silver
Tooth-colored composite vs. silver fillings.
We place composite fillings, which can restore a damaged tooth while closely matching the color of your natural enamel.
Composite
Tooth-colored
- Bonds to the prepared tooth
- Matched to your natural enamel
- Hardened during the appointment
- Designed to blend into your smile
Amalgam
Silver-colored
- Metal-based restorative material
- Does not match natural enamel
- May remain serviceable for many years
- Does not automatically need replacement
What about an old silver filling?
Condition matters more than age alone. Dr. Rudat checks existing fillings during your dental exams for changes such as wear, fractures, decay around the restoration, or problems at the margins.
If an existing filling is still functioning well, replacement may not be necessary. If there's a reason to replace it, Dr. Rudat can explain what she sees and the restorative options available.
Cost
What does a cavity filling cost?
Tooth-Colored Filling
$150–$450
Per filling
Where your filling falls within that range depends on the size of the cavity, the tooth involved, and how many surfaces need to be restored.
With dental insurance. Coverage for fillings varies by plan. Our team can help verify your benefits and explain your estimated out-of-pocket cost before treatment.
Without insurance. We'll explain the applicable cost before treatment so you know what to expect. You can also learn more about payment options on our fees and membership page.
Treating decay while a tooth can still be restored conservatively may help avoid more extensive treatment if the cavity progresses.
Comfort
Does getting a filling hurt?
During Treatment
Local anesthetic keeps the tooth numb.
You may notice pressure or vibration while the tooth is being treated, but local anesthetic is used to minimize discomfort.
Sensitivity after a filling can occur, particularly with temperature or biting, and often improves as the tooth settles. If discomfort persists, worsens, or your bite feels as though the filled tooth touches first, contact the office so it can be evaluated.
If dental anxiety has made it difficult to schedule treatment, tell us before your visit. Knowing that ahead of time gives the team an opportunity to make the appointment as comfortable and manageable as possible.
Longevity
How long do fillings last?
Composite fillings can serve for years, but there isn't a single expiration date for every restoration.
Placement
Monitored over time
Longevity depends on the size and location of the filling, the forces placed on the tooth, your oral hygiene, decay risk, and habits such as clenching or grinding.
Every restoration can be checked during your regular dental exams. Preventive care and teeth cleanings also help Dr. Rudat monitor the tooth and the tissues around it.
If you grind or clench, a custom night guard may be recommended to help protect your teeth and restorations from excessive wear.
When too much tooth structure has been lost for a filling to predictably restore the tooth, a dental crown may be considered instead. Dr. Rudat can show you what she sees and explain why one approach is more appropriate.
If One Breaks
Filling fell out or broke?
Call the office. A lost or broken filling leaves the tooth unprotected and should be evaluated rather than ignored.
Whether the tooth needs another filling or a different restoration depends on how much tooth structure remains, whether decay is present, and whether the tooth itself has fractured.
If you use an over-the-counter temporary filling material while waiting to be seen, treat it as exactly that:
If you use an over-the-counter temporary filling material
If you use an over-the-counter temporary filling material while waiting to be seen, treat it as exactly that: temporary. It isn't a substitute for having the tooth examined and properly restored.
Emergency Dentistry ↗Why Dr. Marta
Why patients choose Dr. Marta Rudat
for dental fillings.
A filling may be routine dentistry, but the details still matter. Dr. Marta takes a conservative approach to restoring teeth, preserving healthy tooth structure whenever possible while repairing the area that needs attention.
She uses tooth-colored composite and carefully matches the shade to your natural enamel. Just as important, she shapes and adjusts the restoration so it feels natural when you bite and doesn't become the tooth you notice every time you chew.
Dr. Marta also looks beyond the cavity itself. She considers existing dental work, wear patterns, gum health, and how your teeth come together before deciding how a tooth should be restored. If a tooth doesn't need a filling, she won't recommend one.
And she keeps watching the restoration over time. At future exams, your fillings become part of the bigger picture, so changes in the tooth, the restoration, or your bite can be identified and addressed when needed.
Dr. Marta Rudat, DDS
Frequently Asked
Dental filling
questions answered.
How much is a dental filling without insurance?
A tooth-colored filling at our Tustin office runs $150 to $450 per filling, depending on the size of the cavity and how many surfaces it involves. You’ll have the exact per-tooth cost in writing at your exam, and membership plan patients get a discount on top.
How long does a filling take?
About 30 to 60 minutes for one tooth, completed in a single visit. Multiple fillings in the same area of the mouth can often be done in one appointment, so you’re only numbed once.
Does a filling hurt?
No. The tooth is numbed first, and you’ll feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Some cold sensitivity or bite tenderness for a few days afterward is normal while the tooth settles.
Is sensitivity normal after a filling?
Some temporary sensitivity can occur after a composite filling, particularly in deeper cavities. Research has not found strong evidence that one commonly used adhesive approach consistently eliminates postoperative sensitivity. Persistent, worsening, or significant pain should be evaluated rather than assumed to be normal.
Are tooth-colored composite fillings as durable as silver amalgam fillings?
Both materials can provide durable restorations. Recent systematic reviews comparing composite and amalgam have found no clear overall difference in failure risk, although performance varies with cavity size, tooth location, technique, and patient factors. Composite has the additional advantage of matching natural tooth color.
Do old silver fillings need to be replaced?
Not simply because they’re old or silver. An existing restoration should be evaluated for problems such as fracture, recurrent decay, defective margins, or loss of material. If a restoration remains clinically acceptable, replacement may not be necessary.
Does a damaged filling always need to be completely replaced?
No. Some partially defective composite fillings can be repaired instead of completely replaced, preserving more healthy tooth structure. Recent evidence suggests repaired restorations can have longevity comparable to replacement in appropriately selected cases.
Can a large cavity still be repaired with a filling?
Sometimes. Recent evidence supports direct composite restorations even for some relatively large posterior cavities, but the amount of remaining healthy tooth structure matters. When a tooth cannot be predictably restored with a direct filling, a different restoration may be recommended.
Will I eventually need to replace my composite filling?
Possibly, but replacement isn’t automatic. Fillings should be monitored rather than replaced according to a predetermined age. Depending on what changes over time, a restoration may remain in place, be repaired, or need replacement.
Book with Dr. Rudat
One visit. One tooth fixed.
If you know you have a cavity, or a filling that's seen better days, the fix is an hour in the chair with the cost in writing first.
