Fix Cavities Without the Metal
Composite (white) fillings bond directly to the tooth, blending in while letting us preserve more of your healthy enamel than metal fillings. Many of our Columbus Avenue patients cannot remember which tooth was filled — the match is that careful.
Conservative, Invisible Repairs
Dr. Shirley shade-matches composite to your enamel and sculpts it to your bite. The visit is typically one appointment, completely numbed, with nitrous on hand if dental work makes you anxious. A caveat cheap shops skip: composite is technique-sensitive — rushed fillings fail, careful ones last. Isolation, layering, curing, polish — we take the chair time, because order matters. You can eat normally as soon as numbness passes; any bite-feels-high after a day deserves a free two-minute adjustment. Composite sets immediately under the curing light, so you eat normally once numbness passes. Existing old metal amalgam gets evaluated honestly at exams — and we only replace when margins fail, never for cosmetics. Technique determines longevity: moisture isolation, total-etch layering, and light-curing schedule are what cheap fast offices squint at. We also replace old amalgam only when margins fail or decay hides beneath — never blanket-replace for cosmetics. Existing metal is still fine functional dentistry when it's not leaking, and we will tell you that plainly.
- Mercury-free, tooth-colored composite
- Bonded to preserve healthy structure
- Shade-matched invisibly
- Usually finished in one visit
What to Expect
Numb Fully
Comfort first — always. Nitrous on request.
Clean & Bond
Decay removed conservatively, composite layered and light-cured.
Shape & Check
Bite perfected and polished until it is forgettable.
Why Patients Choose Us
Natural Look
Patients routinely say they forget which tooth was treated.
More Tooth Kept
Bonded fillings avoid wedging larger holes like amalgam requires.
Calm Visits
Numbing-first pacing with nitrous throughout.
Thinking about composite dental fillings?
Appointments are never double-booked — first evaluation includes a written plan with estimated costs.
When a Filling Is the Right Call
Small-to-moderate cavities and chipped edges suit composite beautifully. Deep decay near the nerve or heavily broken-down teeth may need an onlay, crown, or root canal — and we will explain the line honestly with X-rays you can see. Post-visit report rule: the bite adjustment is free for months — call if anything feels high or clicks; biting discomfort after weeks is not normal, it is a calibration point.
- New or early cavities
- Small chips and worn edges
- Replacement for failing old fillings
Filling Costs and Insurance
Composite fillings are usually covered at a percentage by the PPO plans we work with. We verify coverage and give you the estimate before treatment — CareCredit accepted for smoother payments when needed.
If the Cavity Is Bigger Than a Filling
For teeth past the filling stage we discuss inlays/onlays or crowns — never automatic root canals. The conservative ladder means we treat the tooth you have, not the one fear predicted.
Fillings Without the Runaround
Fillings happen calmly here — one chair at a time, dentistry explained as it goes. Our office sits on Columbus Avenue near 110th Street, convenient from the 1 and B/C trains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule Your Visit
Appointments are never double-booked — the room is reserved just for you. Book online or call (917) 261-7555.