Services
Fillings and crowns
Repairing a tooth that has a cavity, a chip or a crack.
A filling takes out the decayed part of a tooth and fills the space. A crown covers the whole tooth when it's too damaged for a filling. The dentist explains which one your tooth needs, and why.
Provided by a general dentist
A written estimate before treatment
What happens
A filling is usually one visit. A crown usually takes two, a few weeks apart, while the crown is made.
- 01
Step 1: Look and talk
The dentist shows you the tooth, with an X-ray when needed, and goes through your options.
- 02
Step 2: Numbing
We numb the area and wait until it works. Tell us if you can still feel anything.
- 03
Step 3: The repair
The dentist removes the damaged part and places the filling, or prepares the tooth for a crown.
- 04
Step 4: Checking the bite
We check how your teeth meet and adjust the repair until it feels right.
Before you decide
Comfort
We numb the tooth before we start. Most people feel pressure, not pain, and you can raise a hand to pause at any time.
Other options, and waiting
A small cavity can sometimes be watched, and there are different materials to choose from. If a damaged tooth is left alone, it can grow and reach the nerve, which makes the treatment bigger.
Risks and after-care
Numbness lasts a few hours, so wait to chew until it fades. A repaired tooth can be sensitive for days or weeks, and a filling or crown can loosen or break. The dentist explains the risks of your treatment before starting.
How it's billed
You get the cost of each step in writing before we start, and we tell you what your plan says it covers.
How fees work
Questions about fillings and crowns
Can a lost filling be fixed on a walk-in?
Tell us when you call. The dentist may be able to protect the tooth that day and plan the repair, but we can't promise the full repair on a walk-in.
What are fillings made of?
Most are a tooth-colored resin. The dentist goes through the materials that suit your tooth.
How long does a crown take to make?
A crown is made between two visits, a few weeks apart. We cover the tooth in between.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Corinne Belton, DDS; Dr. Sunhee Yang, DDS; or Dr. Kelvin Heard, DMD. Each is licensed in New York.