Tooth Fillings in Vancouver, WA | Cavity Repair

A tooth filling repairs damage caused by decay, minor fractures, or wear by removing the affected area, cleaning the tooth, and restoring it with durable material. Treating cavities early helps prevent decay from reaching the tooth’s inner pulp, where more complex care like a root canal or extraction may be needed.

At Cascade Dental, we use tooth-colored composite resin that bonds directly to the enamel and blends naturally with your smile. Most fillings are completed in one visit, making them a simple, effective way to protect your tooth and restore normal function.

Stops decay from reaching the nerve

Once bacteria work through enamel and dentin, they can infect the pulp — requiring root canal therapy or extraction rather than a simple filling.

Preserves more of your natural tooth

A small cavity needs a small filling. A larger cavity needs a larger filling — or may not leave enough tooth structure to support one at all.

Prevents infection from spreading

Untreated decay can develop into a dental abscess — a painful infection that can affect the surrounding bone and neighboring teeth.

Keeps costs manageable

A composite filling is a fraction of the cost of a crown or root canal. Treating decay early is the single best value in dentistry.

Not all filling materials are equal in aesthetics, durability, or how they interact with your tooth structure. Here’s a clear breakdown.

Composite Resin (Tooth-Colored) – Our primary material for most fillings

Our standard filling material. Composite is a durable plastic resin tinted to match your natural tooth color exactly. It bonds chemically to the tooth surface, which means less healthy enamel needs to be removed during preparation. The finished filling is indistinguishable from surrounding enamel — no silver, no metal, no “tells.”

Amalgam (Silver) – Rarely used (aesthetic concerns)

A traditional alloy of metals that has been used in dentistry for over 150 years. Amalgam is durable and less expensive, but its silver-gray appearance is visible in the mouth. It also requires more removal of healthy tooth structure for placement. We rarely recommend amalgam today, though we can discuss it for specific clinical situations.

Ceramic / Porcelain – For larger restorations

Ceramic fillings (sometimes called inlays or onlays) offer excellent aesthetics and biocompatibility. They’re typically fabricated in a lab and require two visits, but offer exceptional durability and a close match to natural tooth appearance. A good option when a larger area needs restoration and composite alone may not be sufficient.

Glass Ionomer – Specialty use (fluoride-releasing)

A tooth-colored material that releases fluoride over time — helpful for patients with a high cavity risk. Less durable than composite, so it’s primarily used for non-biting surfaces, baby teeth, or areas below the gumline where fluoride release is particularly beneficial.

The filling you can’t see is the one that works best

Composite resin is bonded directly into the cavity after etching the tooth surface — creating a mechanical and chemical bond that actually strengthens the remaining tooth structure. Amalgam, by contrast, doesn’t bond to the tooth. It relies on mechanical retention, which is why more healthy enamel has to be removed to make room for it.

The result with composite: a smaller, stronger, invisible restoration that lets your natural tooth do most of the work.

 

“The best restoration is the smallest one — and modern composite makes that possible.” — Cascade Dental

• Bonds to the tooth

Chemical bonding means less healthy enamel removal during prep — and a tighter seal that resists bacteria re-entering the cavity.

• Temperature stable

Metal fillings expand with heat and contract with cold over time — creating micro-cracks in surrounding enamel. Composite doesn’t.

• Invisible result

Matched to your exact tooth color. No dark spots when you laugh, no metal visible in dental X-rays — just a natural-looking tooth.

• Same-day placement

Composite fillings are applied, shaped, and cured with a special light in one visit — no lab work, no temporary restoration needed.

The treatment you need depends entirely on how far the decay or damage has progressed. Here’s how a filling compares to the alternatives — and why acting early keeps options simpler.

Tooth Filling (Simplest option — when caught early)

Decay has affected the enamel and dentin but hasn’t reached the inner pulp. The compromised material is removed and replaced with composite. Tooth structure is preserved, the nerve is untouched, and the tooth continues functioning normally.

Dental Crown (Needed when decay is extensive)

Decay is extensive, the tooth is fractured, or so much structure has been removed that a filling alone can’t provide adequate support. A crown caps the entire tooth to protect what remains. More involved than a filling, but still preserves the natural root.

Root Canal (Needed when infection reaches the nerve)

Decay has reached the inner pulp of the tooth, causing infection or significant pain. The infected pulp is removed, the canal is cleaned and sealed, and a crown is typically placed on top. More complex — and avoidable if decay is addressed before it progresses this far.

No Treatment (always worsens over time)

Decay doesn’t stop growing on its own. Without treatment, a small cavity will eventually reach the pulp, cause infection, and may result in tooth loss. Delaying also increases the cost and complexity of whatever treatment eventually becomes necessary.

Local anesthetic wears off within 1–3 hours. Until then, be careful eating — you won’t feel biting pressure accurately while numb. After that, most patients return to normal immediately.

Mild sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure is normal for a few days and typically fades on its own

If your bite feels high or uneven once the numbness wears off, call us — this is a simple adjustment

Avoid very hard or sticky foods on the day of the procedure

Composite fillings are fully set before you leave — no waiting period for the material to harden

 If sensitivity persists beyond 2 weeks, contact us so we can evaluate the tooth

What Patients Say

Trusted by Families Across Vancouver and Clark County

 

Great service as usual.

Ovetall and Dr. Andy H. in particular.

Had routine tooth filling. 

★★★★★ Melior O

 

My experience with Cascade Dental is consistently positive. Everyone I have had contact with is thorough, gentle and pleasant. I always feel cared for and more educated with each visit. 

★★★★★ Meg Woodard 

 

This place was great! Very relational and professional. We are moving and now have high standards for our next dentist.

Thank you Dr. Reller and team! You guys are great! 

★★★★★ Alla Zalyashko