Services
Fillings and crowns
A filling repairs a tooth that has a cavity or a small crack. A crown covers a tooth that is too broken or too worn for a filling. Both are provided by a general dentist.
What happens
A filling is usually one visit. A crown is usually two, with a temporary crown between them.
- 01
Step 1: The talk
Dr. DeJesus shows you the tooth, says what she sees and names the material she would use and why.
- 02
Step 2: Numbing, if you want it
A gel first, then a local anesthetic. You can ask for a break at any time.
- 03
Step 3: The work
She removes the decay or the damaged part, shapes the tooth and places the filling, or prepares it for a crown.
- 04
Step 4: The bite check
You bite on thin paper and she adjusts the filling or crown until your teeth meet comfortably.
- 05
Step 5: Your crown, a second visit
A temporary crown protects the tooth while the permanent one is made, then the new one is fitted.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
A local anesthetic numbs the tooth and the area around it. You'll feel pressure but should not feel pain. Tell us if you do, and we stop and add more.
Other choices, and waiting
Often there is another choice: a different material, a larger or smaller repair, or watching a small cavity. If you wait, a cavity can get larger and a crack can spread, and the repair may become bigger. She tells you which applies to your tooth. The materials guide describes each material.
Risks and after-care
A tooth can be sensitive to hot, cold or biting for a few days. Chew on the other side while you're numb. Fillings and crowns can wear, chip or loosen, and decay can start at their edges, so we check them at each exam. Call us if your bite feels high.
How it is billed
A written estimate comes before treatment. Whether a plan pays for a filling or a crown, and how much, is the plan's decision.
How fees work
Materials we use for crowns
Dr. DeJesus talks through these with you. The guide has more.
Porcelain and other ceramics
Tooth-colored, and shaped to your tooth.
Materials guideZirconia
A very hard ceramic, often chosen for back teeth.
Materials guideGold alloys
A long record in crowns, and a metal color.
Materials guide
Questions about fillings and crowns
What is my filling made of?
We place composite, a tooth-colored resin. Dr. DeJesus tells you before she starts, and the materials guide has the details.
Can you replace my old silver fillings?
We replace a filling when it is cracked, leaking at the edge or has decay under it. We don't replace a sound one just because of what it is made of.
How long will it last?
It depends on your bite, your habits and the size of the repair. She gives you a range, not a promise.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Alba DeJesus, DDS, general dentist, licensed in California.