Dental Fillings in Albuquerque, NM
We know that no one looks forward to getting dental fillings. But the truth is, cavities are incredibly common, affecting about 90% of adults and over 50% of children ages 6-8. If you’re dealing with one, you’re definitely not alone. Maybe it’s your child’s first filling or spot you’ve been putting off for a while. Either way, we’ll meet you with understanding, not guilt.
At Sunshine Dental, our goal is to make every dental experience as positive as possible! We use tooth-colored composite fillings that blend in beautifully with your natural smile, and we take the time to make sure you feel heard and cared for. As part of our commitment to patient-friendly care, we also offer cutting-edge options like Curodont™, a non-invasive treatment that can treat early decay before a filling is ever needed. It’s all part of our mission to provide advanced, compassionate care.
What Are Dental Fillings?
Dental fillings are one of the most common and effective ways we treat cavities. A cavity forms when decay eats away at your tooth’s surface. This decay starts when bacteria in your mouth break down sugars and release acids, which slowly weaken and damage the enamel. If left untreated, a cavity can grow deeper, causing pain, infection, or even tooth loss.
Once we gently remove the decay, the filling seals the space, restores the tooth’s shape and function, and helps protect it from future damage. At Sunshine Dental, our goal is to repair the tooth in a way that’s comfortable, gentle, and supports your long-term dental health.
A filling is best for small to moderately sized cavities. If the decay has reached the tooth’s pulp, which houses the nerve, or if it has caused significant structural damage, Dr. Jaime may recommend a dental crown instead.
The Dental Filling Procedure
If you or your child needs a filling, we want you to know it’s a simple, straightforward process, and we’ll prioritize your comfort throughout.
First, we numb the area so you don’t feel anything during the procedure. Dr. Jaime has invested a lot of time in perfecting her technique for administering local anesthesia, so even this step is gentle.
Then, Dr. Jaime carefully removes the decayed part of the tooth and cleans the area. Once it’s ready, she fills the space with a tooth-colored composite material—the same material used for dental bonding. Dr. Jaime shapes it to fit naturally and uses a special light to harden it. After a quick polish, the filling blends right in with your smile.
We use composite (white) fillings at Sunshine Dental because they’re strong, long-lasting, and look just like your natural teeth. They also bond directly to the tooth, which means we can preserve more of your healthy tooth structure.
Compared to old-fashioned silver (amalgam) fillings, composite doesn’t expand and contract with temperature changes. Plus, it doesn’t leave any dark spots behind when you smile. It’s the perfect blend of restorative and cosmetic dentistry. When it’s in place, most people forget they even have a filling.
Most importantly, we’re here to make the experience as easy and positive as possible. Whether it’s your filling or your child’s, you can count on us to walk you through each step with care, kindness, and zero judgment.
Whether it’s you or your child in our dental chair, we do everything we can to make the entire experience positive, comfortable, and judgment-free.
Innovations in Cavity Prevention
At Sunshine Dental, we’re always looking for ways to treat dental problems before they become something more serious. That’s why we’re excited to offer Curodont™ by vVARDIS. This gentle, non-invasive treatment can help your tooth heal itself and, in many cases, avoid the need for drilling and filling.
How Curodont Works
Cavities don’t start as holes. They begin as weak spots in the enamel, often seen as white spots on your teeth. These spots form when minerals like calcium and phosphate are pulled out of the enamel, making it softer and more vulnerable. This happens when the bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and carbs from your food. As they digest those sugars, they release acid, which sits on your teeth and slowly breaks down the enamel.
Curodont is a liquid that we simply brush onto these early signs of decay. It contains a special peptide (a tiny protein) that seeps into the weakened enamel. Once inside, it forms a microscopic framework that attracts calcium, phosphate, and fluoride from your saliva. These are the minerals that your tooth needs repair itself. By pulling in the minerals, the tooth can become strong again. Over time, this remineralization process can re-harden the enamel and stop the early cavity from progressing.
How We Use Curodont To Prevent Dental Fillings
The Curodont treatment is quick, painless, and feels more like having a gel painted on than a dental procedure. There’s no numbing, no drilling, and you leave with your tooth intact. It works best on very early cavities (before a hole has formed), so early detection is essential.
It’s especially helpful for kids, teens with braces, or anyone prone to white spots on their teeth. While insurance doesn’t cover it yet, many patients find the out-of-pocket cost worth it to avoid more invasive treatment.
We may also pair Curodont with other preventive options, like sealants, to give your teeth the best possible protection. Think of it as layering up your defenses. With these preventive measures, we can treat weak spots before they turn into something bigger.
However, it’s important to note that good at-home oral hygiene is key to maintaining healthy teeth after treatment. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing every day, and limiting sugar in your diet support the healing process and help prevent new weak spots from forming.
At your regular checkups, we’ll also keep an eye on the treated area to make sure it’s getting stronger. If anything changes, we’ll catch it early and talk through the next best steps together.
If you’re interested in a gentler approach to early cavity care, talk to us about whether Curodont is right for you or your child. It’s just one more way we’re working to keep your smile healthy with innovative and minimally invasive treatment options.
Healthier Smiles Start Here at Sunshine Dental
Cavities happen, and when they do, you deserve quality solutions and a team that treats you with compassion. At Sunshine Dental, we focus on doing what’s best for you, whether that’s a gentle, tooth-colored filling or a non-invasive option like Curodont™ to stop early decay in its tracks.
Our team is here to make your visit feel easy, supportive, and even empowering. If you have a tooth you’ve been meaning to get checked, or you want to help your child avoid future fillings, now is the time to reach out. Book a visit with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
If a cavity has gotten too big, a regular filling might not be enough to keep the tooth strong. In those cases, we usually recommend a crown. A crown is a custom cover that fits over your tooth to protect it and help it work like normal.
However, if the decay has reached the nerve inside the root, we may need to perform a root canal first to clean out the infection and save the tooth. And if the damage is too severe to repair, an extraction might actually be the healthiest option.
If you’re struggling with decay, don’t worry: we’ll walk you through every possibility, answer your questions honestly, and make sure you feel confident about your care. At Sunshine Dental, we’ll never rush you or pressure you into treatment.
If your silver fillings are still holding up well, there’s no need to replace them. However, over time, they can crack or cause tiny fractures in the tooth, especially if they’ve been there for a while. In these cases, we’ll carefully remove the silver filling and replace it with a composite one.
Some people also choose to replace their old fillings for cosmetic reasons because white composite fillings don’t show when you laugh or smile. If your fillings are preventing you from smiling confidently, we can help.
We’re happy to check on your old fillings and let you know if they’re still doing their job. And if you want to swap them out, we’ll make sure it’s done correctly.
Composite fillings usually last 7-10 years, and sometimes even longer if you take good care of them. It really depends on how big the filling is, where it is in your mouth, and how well you brush and floss.
Regular professional cleanings help, too. They give us a chance to check on your filling, catch any early signs of wear, and clean around it more thoroughly than brushing alone.