Tooth-Colored Fillings for Kids in Christiansburg, VA

Tooth-colored fillings are made from materials that blend in with the tooth:

• Composite resin: a tooth-colored material that bonds directly to the tooth. It is strong, can be shade-matched and is used on both front and back teeth.
• Glass ionomer: a tooth-colored material that releases fluoride over time, which helps protect the tooth. It is often used on baby teeth and in children at higher risk of cavities.

Because these materials bond to the tooth, the dentist can often remove less healthy tooth structure than with older filling types.

A filling is used when a cavity has made a hole in the enamel but the tooth is still strong enough to hold a repair. Early cavities may show up as white or brown spots, sensitivity to sweets or cold, or food getting stuck in one place. Many cavities have no symptoms at all and are found during a checkup or on X-rays. Our guide on when children need fillings covers the signs to watch for.

Some very early cavities can be stopped without a filling, using fluoride or silver diamine fluoride. Larger cavities may need a crown instead.

• Numbing: the tooth is numbed with local anesthetic so your child feels pressure rather than pain. Very small fillings sometimes need no numbing.
• Removing decay: the decayed part of the tooth is cleaned out.
• Filling: the tooth-colored material is placed in layers and shaped to fit the bite.
• Hardening and polishing: a curing light sets the material, and the filling is polished smooth.

Your child can usually eat once the numbness wears off. Laughing gas can help children who feel nervous, and our team will explain every step in kid-friendly words.

A filling repairs the damage, but prevention keeps new cavities away. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, limiting sugary drinks and snacks, and regular checkups all help. Dental sealants add protection for the grooves of the back teeth.

The dentist chooses the filling material based on the tooth and your child's needs. Composite resin is a strong choice for chewing surfaces and front teeth because it can be shade-matched and polished to look natural. Glass ionomer is often used for baby teeth, cavities near the gumline and children at higher risk of decay, because it releases fluoride that helps protect the tooth. Sometimes both are used in the same tooth. Either way, the filling is tooth-colored and mercury-free.

Your child's lip, cheek and tongue may stay numb for one to three hours after a filling. Offer soft foods once the numbness wears off, and remind your child not to chew on their lip or cheek. A little sensitivity to cold for a few days is normal. If the bite feels high or uneven after the numbness goes away, call us so we can make a quick adjustment.

Fillings in permanent teeth can last many years, but they are checked at every visit. Let us know if your child notices a rough edge, food catching in one spot, new sensitivity or a dark line around a filling. Small problems with a filling can often be repaired or polished before they turn into a larger issue. Grinding, chewing ice or using teeth to open packages can shorten a filling's life.

Blacksburg families are about 15 minutes from our office along US-460. When a cavity is found at a checkup, we can often schedule the filling within days, and small fillings may sometimes be done at the same visit. Treating cavities while they are small usually means a shorter, simpler appointment for your child.

From Radford, our Christiansburg office is about 20 minutes away, and families from Dublin and Pulaski usually drive 25 to 35 minutes on I-81. If your child has more than one cavity, we will plan the fillings to need as few visits as practical, grouping teeth on the same side of the mouth so they can be numbed together.

Families from Roanoke City and Roanoke County make the 40 to 50 minute drive up I-81 for care with our team. Let us know you are coming from Roanoke when you book, and we will look for a time that leaves room for the drive and lets your child recover from numbness before school or activities.