Make Teeth Look And Feel As Best They Can
Experience Dental - Dental Fillings FAQs
Experience Dental - Are getting fillings painful?
At our office, dental fillings are one of the most common procedures we perform. Using tooth-colored composite resin, we repair and restore teeth, preventing decay or infection that could lead to more extensive treatments. Unlike metal fillings, composite resin blends seamlessly with your natural teeth, adheres effectively, and requires less drilling for smaller cavities, preserving more of your tooth’s structure.
Why Are Fillings So Important
Getting a filling may seem like an inconvenience, especially if there’s no immediate pain, but addressing cavities promptly is essential for your oral health. Here’s why:
- Stop cavities from worsening: Fillings prevent decay from spreading deeper into the tooth.
- Prevent infections and abscesses: Untreated cavities can lead to painful, costly complications.
- Restore tooth strength: Fillings rebuild durability, protecting your tooth from further damage.
- Save money long-term: Treating a small cavity is far more affordable than extensive procedures later.
- Reduce sensitivity: Fillings help guard against discomfort from hot or cold foods and drinks.
- Preserve your natural smile: They maintain your tooth’s structure and appearance for years to come.
Don’t wait—fillings are a simple, effective way to protect your teeth and ensure a healthy, confident smile!
How Is a Cavity Filled?
Light Freezing
To ensure your comfort, we begin by numbing your gums before anesthetizing the area. While it’s natural to feel a little nervous about this step, the anesthetic ensures that your teeth and surrounding area are fully numb, minimizing any discomfort during the procedure.
Filling The Cavity
Once the area is numb, the tooth is carefully cleaned and prepped. An adhesive gel is applied, and tooth-colored composite resin is placed in the cavity. The resin is expertly molded and shaped to match your tooth’s natural contours and bite for a seamless result.
Curing The Composte
A specialized LED light is used to harden and set the composite resin quickly. Afterward, your dentist checks the tooth, makes any necessary adjustments, and polishes it to ensure a smooth and natural finish.
The result? A strong, natural-looking restoration that protects your tooth and preserves your smile!
The Cost Of A Filling In Boulder
Fillings are a routine and effective way to prevent more significant dental issues, and they are often largely covered by most insurance plans. With typical insurance coverage, your out-of-pocket expense for a filling may range from $0 to over $100. Without insurance, costs generally fall between $120 and $300 or more, especially if multiple fillings are needed.
The cost of your treatment depends on various factors, including the condition of your oral health, the number and location of the cavities, whether new dental x-rays are required, the time needed for your procedure, and the equipment and materials used.
Addressing cavities promptly is crucial to avoid more complex treatments, prevent serious dental discomfort, and maintain both your smile and overall well-being.
Disclaimer — Separate Ownership, Separate Billing, and No Cross-Substitution:
Experience Dental, Opera Aesthetics, and Sleep Better Apnea Therapy are independently owned and operated entities, each with its own tax identification number, fee schedules, billing policies, and clinical criteria. These entities do not share insurance contracts, reimbursement structures, covered benefits, or medical/dental necessity standards. Experience Dental provides general and medically necessary dental services and bills only through applicable dental insurance plans under its own entity and provider contracts. Opera Aesthetics provides cosmetic and elective procedures only. These services are not medically necessary and are never billed to dental or medical insurance, nor are they submitted for reimbursement on a patient’s behalf. Sleep Better Apnea Therapy operates as a durable medical equipment (DME) provider and bills only through medical insurance for qualified oral appliance therapy when medically necessary and prescribed by a licensed physician. The presence of multiple brands on this website is for informational and marketing purposes only. Each entity maintains separate accounting, patient records, billing systems, and financial policies, and there is no cross-subsidization or shifting of charges between entities. No patient is ever directed, encouraged, or incentivized to choose a cosmetic or private-pay service as a condition of receiving medically necessary or insurance-covered care.
Disclaimer — Insurance-Based Medically Necessary Dental Care Only:
Experience Dental provides general and medically necessary dental services that may be eligible for coverage under a patient’s dental insurance plan. All claims are submitted only for procedures that meet dental insurance criteria for medical necessity, and cosmetic or elective services are not billed to insurance under any circumstances. Insurance estimates provided by Experience Dental are based on information obtained from the patient’s insurer and are not a guarantee of coverage or payment. Final determination of benefits is made solely by the insurance carrier, and the patient remains financially responsible for all charges not covered by their plan. Any reference on this page to Opera Aesthetics or Sleep Better Apnea Therapy is for informational clarity only. Cosmetic, elective, or out-of-network services offered by Opera Aesthetics are completely separate and cannot be billed or reimbursed through Experience Dental or through any dental insurance plan. Likewise, medical-insurance–based services provided by Sleep Better Apnea Therapy cannot be billed under Experience Dental. Experience Dental does not offer any financial incentives, discounts, or inducements for choosing one entity over another.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
By maintaining a regular routine of daily brushing and flossing, along with consistent cleanings and checkups, your fillings should remain in good condition for over ten years.
In the past, dental amalgam—a mix of metals—was commonly used for fillings and is often referred to as “silver” or “mercury” fillings. Despite ongoing debate about their safety, the American Dental Association states that scientific studies have not confirmed any link between amalgam fillings and illness in the general population. If you have silver fillings, there’s no need to worry!
While over-the-counter products can temporarily address minor tooth damage or cavities, they are not substitutes for professional dental care. Cavities are permanent damage to your tooth that require expert cleaning, preparation, and filling. Ignoring dental decay increases the risk of severe complications, including tooth loss and painful abscesses.
Severe tooth pain that interferes with eating or sleeping qualifies as a dental emergency. Contact us immediately for advice and an urgent appointment. While you wait, applying a cold compress to the affected area can help reduce swelling and discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), may also provide temporary relief. Always follow the medication’s instructions, note your dosage and timing, and share this information with us during your visit. Prioritize professional care for lasting relief and to protect your oral health!


