Maybe floss keeps shredding on the same back tooth. Maybe a tooth twinges every time you sip something cold, or your last checkup found a small dark spot on an X-ray. Most of the time, the repair is a tooth-colored filling, usually done in one visit at our Lakeview office.
Tooth-colored fillings, often called white fillings, are made of composite resin. It goes in soft, is shaded to match your tooth, bonds to it, and sets hard under a blue light. Because it sticks to the tooth, less healthy tooth has to be drilled away than for an old metal filling.
“Even for something as simple as a filling, I photograph the tooth before we start, while I'm carefully cleaning out the decay, and again once we're done. I love showing patients what was there, what we changed, and how thoughtfully restoring even one small part of a tooth can make it feel like it belongs to them again.”
Dr. Erin Cho
Do I need a filling if my tooth doesn't hurt?
Often, yes. Early decay rarely hurts. By the time a cavity aches, it has usually reached the softer layer under the enamel and is spreading faster. Most cavities are found at a checkup, on an X-ray or under a bright light, long before you'd feel them.
Not every dark spot needs drilling, though. A stain, or enamel that is only starting to soften, can sometimes be watched and helped along with fluoride and better cleaning. Quite often, the best answer for now is to keep an eye on it, so you don't get a filling before you need one.
Once there's a real hole, it won't close up again. A filling then stops the decay and seals the tooth. When the damage takes up a large part of the tooth, a filling may not be strong enough, and a crown, which covers the whole tooth, is the safer repair.
What happens when you get a filling in Chicago?
First the tooth is numbed. Most people feel the pinch of the injection and then nothing but pressure and vibration. We clean out the decay, then build the filling up in thin layers of composite matched to your tooth's shade, setting each one with the light. Last, we shape it to your bite and polish it smooth.
Most of the time, a filling happens where you can't see it, and you take the work on trust. We'd rather you see it. We photograph the tooth before we start, while the decay is cleaned out, and again once we're done, then show you the photos, so you know what was in your tooth, what we changed and why.
Dr. Erin is a minimally invasive dentist, from the smallest filling up. Only what's decayed comes out, and as much healthy tooth as possible stays, which keeps the tooth stronger for the years ahead.
A typical filling takes under an hour. Your lip and cheek may stay numb for two or three hours afterward.
What should a new filling feel like?
Wait until the numbness wears off before you eat, so you don't bite your cheek or tongue. The filling itself is already set hard when you leave.
A little sensitivity to cold, or when you bite, is normal for a few days. If it lasts more than a couple of weeks, or the tooth feels like it hits first when you close your teeth, call us. A filling that sits slightly high is a quick adjustment, and it can make the tooth sore if it's left.
Should old silver fillings be replaced with tooth-colored fillings?
Not because they're silver. Silver fillings aren't automatically a problem, and small ones can last for decades.
The bigger concern is a large filling that has replaced a lot of the tooth. That tooth can become more prone to cracking over time. So we check an old filling like any other, and replace it only when it, or the tooth around it, is failing.
Signs an old filling needs attention:
A crack in the tooth around it
Decay creeping in at its edges
Pain when you bite, or new sensitivity to cold
A filling that has chipped or come loose
“They actually show you images & x-rays and walk you through what they are seeing. I needed a few fillings, and I almost fell asleep during them.”
Kory Kukuk, in a Google review
What patients say
360+ 5-Star Google Reviews
“The dentist did everything possible to save my tooth”
“Very polite and professional staff… The dentist did everything possible to save my tooth, and the whole experience was as comfortable as it could be.”
Pavel ZhinGoogle · May 2026
“They actually show you images & x-rays”
“A really nice touch is that they are very transparent with what is being done and why - they actually show you images & x-rays and walk you through what they are seeing.”
Kory KukukGoogle · Jan 2026
Our dentists
Our founder, Dr. Erin Cho, and Dr. Ashley Choi, both trained at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Often 7 to 10 years or longer. It depends on how big the filling is, where it sits and habits like grinding. Checkups catch wear before it becomes a problem.
Do fillings hurt?›
Not usually. The tooth is numbed first, so most people feel pressure rather than pain. It can be a little sensitive to cold or biting for a few days.
Can a cavity heal on its own?›
Not once there's a hole. Very early softening of the enamel can sometimes be reversed with fluoride and good cleaning, so a small spot may be watched instead of filled.
Are white fillings as strong as silver ones?›
For small and medium fillings, yes. Composite holds up well to everyday chewing. Very large repairs are better protected with a crown.
Can I eat after a filling?›
Yes, once the numbness wears off. Composite is set hard with a light before you leave, so there's no waiting for it to cure.
Does insurance cover tooth-colored fillings?›
Usually, yes. Most plans cover fillings, though some pay less for composite on back teeth. We make using your dental benefits simple. Contact us and our team will be happy to help you understand what your plan may cover.
Book a visit. We'll look closely, show you the photographs and X-rays, and explain what the tooth needs, so the decision is yours before anything is done.
Pavel ZhinGoogle · May 2026
Kory KukukGoogle · Jan 2026
