Restorative care
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth-colored composite fillings that blend in. We do not use amalgam.
A tooth-colored filling repairs a cavity using composite resin that is bonded to the tooth and matched to its shade. Soothing Dental does not use amalgam. Every filling placed here is tooth-colored, which means the repair blends into your tooth instead of leaving a dark patch that shows whenever you laugh.
We do not place amalgam fillings
No silver, no mercury-containing amalgam. Modern composite bonds directly to the tooth structure, which means less healthy tooth has to be removed to hold it in place, and it seals the tooth rather than simply plugging the hole. It also looks like a tooth. For most patients that combination settles the question before it is asked.
How a filling appointment actually goes
We numb the area and check that you are genuinely numb before starting, not just theoretically numb. The decay is removed, the tooth is cleaned and prepared, and the composite is placed in layers and set. Then the bite is checked and adjusted so nothing feels high. Most single fillings take well under an hour, and you walk out able to use the tooth.
If injections are the part you dread
Say so before we start. That is not an unusual request and it does not need an apology. Numbing gel first, going slowly, and simply telling you what is happening before it happens removes most of what people actually find distressing. The reason this practice is called what it is comes down to appointments like this one.
Replacing old fillings
Old amalgam fillings do not automatically need replacing. If one is sound and sealed, leaving it alone is often the right call. When one is cracked, leaking, or has decay underneath, or when you would simply prefer the dark metal gone from a tooth that shows, replacing it with composite is straightforward. We will tell you which category yours falls into rather than recommending wholesale replacement.
Catching cavities while they are small
A cavity found early is a small filling. The same cavity found two years later can be a crown or a root canal. Nothing about a filling is difficult, and the reason we push routine exams is precisely so that this is the appointment you need rather than a much bigger one.
Tooth-colored fillings in Plymouth
If something is catching your floss, feeling sharp, or aching with cold, get it looked at while it is still small. Patients come to us from Plymouth, Canton, Livonia, and well beyond, and plenty of them arrive specifically because they want the metal out of their mouths.
Why patients stay
Dentistry, done differently.
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Gentle, even for the anxious
We hold your hand through it, literally if you want. No judgment, no rush.
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Caring for Plymouth families for decades
Three owners, one standard of care, and over 25 years in Dr. deFuentes Cutter's hands.
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A person, not a call center
Call and you reach our front desk. We answer your questions ourselves.
Good questions
Questions patients often ask.
Do you use silver or mercury fillings?
No. Every filling placed here is tooth-colored composite. Beyond appearance, composite bonds directly to the tooth, which means less healthy tooth structure has to be removed to hold it in place and the tooth is sealed rather than simply plugged.
Should I have my old amalgam fillings replaced?
Not automatically. If an old filling is sound and well sealed, leaving it alone is often the right call. Replacement makes sense when one is cracked, leaking, has decay underneath, or is in a tooth that shows and you would rather the dark metal was gone. We will tell you which yours are.
How long does a filling take?
Most single fillings take well under an hour from numbing to finished. You can use the tooth as soon as you leave, though it is worth waiting for the numbness to wear off before eating so you do not bite your cheek.
Will it hurt?
It should not. The area is numbed first and we check you are genuinely numb before starting. If injections are the part you dread, say so at the outset. Numbing gel, going slowly, and explaining each step before it happens removes most of what people actually find difficult.
How do I know if I have a cavity?
Often you do not, which is the whole argument for routine exams. Early decay is painless. By the time a tooth aches with cold or something catches your floss, the cavity is already well established. Found early it is a small filling; left two years it can become a crown or a root canal.
Ready when you are
We're easier to call than you think.
Tell us what's worrying you. We'll take it from there. No scripts, no rush.