Fillings in Federal Hill

What a filling does

When decay has eaten into a tooth, the damaged part is removed and the space left behind is filled. That stops the decay spreading and puts the tooth back to a shape you can chew on.

Dr. Ellis uses tooth-colored composite, shaded to match the enamel around it. Once it is polished, a filling does not announce itself across the room the way the silver ones did.

How you know you need one

Sometimes you do not. Decay often causes nothing at all until it is deep, which is why fillings are usually found at a checkup rather than reported by the patient. When there are signs, they are usually a twinge with something cold or sweet, or a dull ache that comes and goes.

Caught early, a filling is a small piece of work. Left alone, the same tooth can end up needing a crown or a root canal instead. That is the whole argument for regular checkups.

What happens at your appointment

The tooth is numbed, the decay is cleaned out, the composite goes in and is shaped, and then Dr. Ellis checks your bite so the new surface meets the tooth above it properly. A straightforward filling is usually finished in the same appointment.

If you are nervous, say so when you book. It changes how the appointment is run.

Replacing an old filling

Fillings do not last forever. They can chip, wear down, or start to leak around the edge, and decay can get in underneath. If you have older fillings, Dr. Ellis will keep an eye on them.

She will not replace one just because it is old. There has to be a reason, and she will show you what she is seeing.

Cost and insurance

Fillings are covered by most dental plans. Check yours on the Insurance Plans Accepted page, or call 443-420-0181 and we will look it up with you.