Can You Fill a Cavity in One Visit?
Yes. D Street Dental Group in San Rafael offers tooth-colored fillings and direct restorations, completed in a single visit with Dr. Steve Truman, DDS. A filling repairs the spot where decay has damaged a tooth, so you keep your own tooth instead of losing more of it.
A cavity is a small hole that forms when decay eats through the outer layer of a tooth. Left alone, it grows deeper. Caught while it is small, it is repaired with a filling: the decayed part is cleaned out and the space is rebuilt with a material matched to the color of your tooth.
Who Needs a Filling, and Who Needs a Crown?
A filling is the right repair when the decay is small and enough healthy tooth remains to hold it. A crown is used when too much tooth structure is gone to hold a filling, which usually means a large fracture, a root canal, or extensive decay.
You may be a candidate for a filling if you notice:
- A spot that catches food or feels rough to your tongue
- Sensitivity to sweets, hot, or cold in one area
- A visible dark spot or small pit in a tooth
- A cavity your dentist flagged at a recent checkup
Many cavities cause no symptoms at first. Left alone, decay can reach the nerve and turn into an infection, and an infection affects more than the tooth. Dr. Steve examines the tooth and tells you which repair fits it.
What Happens at the Appointment?
The visit follows four steps, and the numbing comes before any work on the tooth.
- Exam We look at the tooth, talk through what we find, and confirm that a filling is the right repair.
- Numbing The area is numbed so you stay comfortable. Nitrous oxide is available if the visit makes you nervous, and you can see every option on the Comfort Menu.
- Removing the decay The decayed part of the tooth is cleaned out, leaving healthy tooth in place.
- Placing the filling A tooth-colored composite is placed, shaped to your bite, and matched to the shade of the tooth around it.
What Is Recovery Like After a Filling?
Most people go straight back to their day. Avoid chewing on the numb side until feeling returns, because it is easy to bite your cheek or tongue without noticing.
Mild sensitivity can follow for a short time as the tooth settles. If your bite feels off once the numbness is gone, or the sensitivity does not ease, call us at (415) 453-0744 and Dr. Steve will take a look.
Why D Street Dental Group
Dr. Steve Truman
Dr. Steve earned his DDS from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and served as a clinical instructor training first-year dental students. Restorative work is the center of his practice, in an office you already know. He plans every case carefully and shows you what is happening with photos and X-rays, so you know exactly what is being done to your tooth.
How Much Does a Filling Cost, and Does Insurance Help?
The cost depends on the tooth and how much of it needs repair, so we give you a clear, itemized estimate before treatment starts. No surprises.
We are out of network with every dental PPO, and we bill your plan directly so any benefit you have gets used. Plans often reimburse 50 to 80 percent of covered services.
Our in-house "D is for Dental" membership takes 20% off restorative & major work, and fillings are among the restorative work it discounts. See the adult membership plan →
Tooth Filling Questions
Does a tooth filling hurt?
We numb the area before we begin, so the visit stays comfortable while Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, removes the decay and places the filling at D Street Dental Group. Once the numbness fades, mild sensitivity can follow for a short time. If dental visits make you nervous, nitrous oxide is available, and our comfort menu lists the other options. Tell us at the start and we will adjust.
How much does a tooth filling cost in San Rafael?
The cost depends on the tooth and how much of it needs repair, so we do not quote a number before examining you. At D Street Dental Group, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, gives you a clear, itemized estimate before treatment begins. Members of our "D is for Dental" plan receive 20% off restorative & major work, and fillings are among the restorative work the plan discounts. Call (415) 453-0744 to schedule an exam.
Does dental insurance cover a filling?
D Street Dental Group is out of network with every dental PPO, but we bill your plan directly so any benefit you have gets used. Plans often reimburse 50 to 80 percent of covered services, depending on the plan. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, provides a clear, itemized estimate before treatment so you know what to expect before you decide. Call (415) 453-0744 with your plan details and we will walk through it with you.
When do I need a crown instead of a filling?
A filling works when enough healthy tooth remains to hold it. A crown is used when too much tooth structure is gone to hold a filling, such as after a large fracture, a root canal, or extensive decay. At D Street Dental Group, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, examines the tooth and explains what he finds, so you can see why one option fits and the other does not. Our crowns and bridges page covers the next step.
Request Your Appointment
Tell us what you need and we'll reach out within one business day. Prefer to talk now? Call (415) 453-0744.
Have a Cavity? Let's Take a Look.
New patients are always welcome. We'll reach out within one business day.