Fillings
Fillings are used to restore teeth that may have been damaged by tooth decay.
What to expect
Your dentist will remove any decayed part of the tooth, clean the area and fill in the cleaned out cavity. Filling up the space will also help prevent further decay. Cavities left untreated, can lead to more serious dental procedures, including root canals and tooth extractions.
Fillings can be made from several substances:
Gold fillings
Gold fillings are made in a laboratory and are long lasting. They do require multiple visits with the dentist and tend to be more expensive than other choices.
Amalgam/silver fillings
Silver fillings are long lasting, durable and less expensive compared to other choices. This substance is a dark material so dentists tend not to use it in highly visible places.
Porcelain
Porcelain fillings are custom made in a lab to match your tooth color. Stain resistant and long lasting, this filling tends to be more expensive than other choices.
Composite resin
Composite reins are plastic, tooth-colored fillings that are matched to your tooth color. This filling is generally used for small fillings, as they tend to stain and only last 3 to 10 years.
CAD/CAM
An optical scanner is used to take detailed pictures of your tooth. Your dentist then uses state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology to craft the image into a custom dental restoration.
Your dentist will be able to create the best treatment plan for you based on the severity of the damage.
Available Practices
The practices below offer this specialty care. Select a practice that best meets your budget and availability for appointments.
Teaching Practice
Services at this clinic are performed at reduced prices because students are working under the supervision of board-certified dentists on faculty. The educational nature of the clinic requires extra time for appointments and the types of services offered depends on the training needed by students at that time.
Average Cost: 60 - 70% less than private practice
Appointment Time: 3-4 hour appointments
Education: Dental students under the guidance of faculty dentists
Resident Practice
We offer comprehensive dental care performed by dental residents who have already received professional dental degrees and are completing advanced training under the supervision of dental faculty.
Average Cost: Fees average 60% of the cost of private practice
Appointment Time: Slightly longer than private practice
Education: Graduate dentists completing advanced training
Faculty Practice
The Faculty Practice at UT Dentistry is staffed by licensed dentists who are also on faculty at the School of Dentistry. When you receive treatment by dentists from the School of Dentistry, you'll get services and expertise from seasoned professionals who also teach our future dentists. Our office has the feel of a private practice with the resources of a nationally recognized dental school.
Average Cost: Equal to private practice
Appointment Time: Equal to private practice
Education: Faculty dentists