Fillings & Crowns
Repair the damage, keep the tooth, and restore it so it looks and feels like nothing ever happened.
What it is
A filling replaces the part of a tooth that decay has taken. It works for damage caught while it's still small, which is most of the reason regular checkups are worth the trouble.
A crown covers the whole tooth. That's the answer when there isn't enough healthy structure left for a filling to hold, or when a tooth is cracked and needs holding together.
Both are about keeping your own tooth. A repaired natural tooth is almost always better than a replaced one.
This page is the repair — a tooth that's damaged, worn or aching. A crown on a sound tooth that you simply don't like the look of is a different conversation, and it's under Veneers & Crowns.
What happens when you come in
- Numb the areaAnd wait until it's actually numb. We check before we start.
- Clean out the damageOnly the part that has to go. We keep as much healthy tooth as we can.
- Rebuild itA filling is shaped and set in the same visit. A crown involves shaping the tooth and fitting the cover.
- Check the biteYou close, we adjust. A repair that feels high is one you'll notice every day, so we take the time here.
This might be for you if
- A checkup turned up a cavity
- A tooth is sensitive to sweet, hot or cold
- You've cracked or chipped a tooth
- An old filling has broken or fallen out
None of this is a diagnosis — it’s just what tends to bring people in. If you’re not sure whether it applies to you, call and ask.
Questions people ask
Will it match my teeth?
Tooth-coloured material is what we use for visible repairs. It's matched to the shade of the teeth around it.
How long will it last?
That honestly depends on the tooth, where it is, how you bite and how you look after it. We'd rather say that than quote you a number that turns out to be wrong.
Filling or crown — who decides?
We'll show you what we're seeing and explain what each option involves and why we're leaning one way. You decide.
What it costs
We can’t put a number on this page honestly — it depends on your mouth and your plan. What we can tell you is how it works: we look first, we explain what we think you need, and you get the cost in writing before anything starts. We don’t begin work you haven’t agreed to, and we won’t pressure you into treatment you don’t need.
We're out of network with all insurances. We do file your claims as a courtesy, so the paperwork isn't left to you — but what your plan pays back is between you and them, and we won't guess at a number. Bring your plan and we'll tell you what we know before anything starts.
CareCredit and Sunbit are available if you’d rather spread the cost. If you’d like to ask before you come in, call (903) 856-6688.
Ready when you are
We’ll greet you by name, explain things clearly, and never rush you.