Tooth-Colored Fillings in Salem, Oregon
Composite fillings that disappear into your tooth — from $150, done comfortably in 30–45 minutes, with the exact price in writing before we pick up a single instrument.
How a cavity becomes a filling
A filling is the smallest, cheapest fix in restorative dentistry: we remove the decayed part of a tooth and rebuild it with composite resin matched to your natural shade. Caught early, a cavity is a 30–45 minute appointment and a bill under $300. Ignored, the same spot of decay grows quietly toward the nerve until it needs a crown or root canal at five to ten times the price. That's the entire economics of the filling, and why it sits near the top of our services list.
The visit itself is uneventful by design. We numb the tooth completely, remove only the decayed portion, sculpt the composite in layers, cure it with a light, and polish it until your tongue can't find it. You'll feel pressure and vibration, never pain, and you can eat as soon as the numbness wears off.
What fillings cost here
Composite fillings run $150–300 per tooth depending on how many surfaces the cavity touches — a small pit on one surface costs less than decay that wraps around two or three. That range is set deliberately about 20% below the typical Salem office, which is our pricing philosophy for everything we do. And OHP covers fillings for adults and kids; we verify your coverage for free before the visit.
| Filling size | Typical Salem range | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| One surface | $180–250 | from $150 |
| Two surfaces | $220–290 | $190–250 |
| Three+ surfaces | $260–320 | $230–300 |
| With OHP | varies | covered |
Your exam comes with a written price per tooth before anything is scheduled. Most PPO plans cover fillings at 70–80% after deductible.
Your filling visit, step by step
Why we don't place metal fillings
We place composite (tooth-colored) fillings only, no silver amalgam. Composite bonds directly to the tooth, which means we drill less to anchor it, it doesn't expand and contract with temperature the way metal does, and it's invisible when you laugh. If you have old silver fillings, here's our honest position: an intact amalgam filling doesn't need replacing. Drilling out a healthy filling "for cosmetics" or vague health worries removes good tooth structure for no proven benefit. That's an upsell, and we don't do it. We check your old fillings at every exam and recommend replacement only when one is actually failing: cracked, leaking at the edges, or hiding new decay underneath.
When a filling isn't enough
Fillings work when most of the tooth is still healthy. When decay has hollowed out too much structure, packing in more composite just creates a filling waiting to break — the tooth needs a crown to hold it together. And if decay has reached the nerve, you'll need a root canal before any restoration. We show you the X-ray and the photo of your actual tooth, explain which category you're in, and put both prices in writing so the decision is yours. Nervous about any of it? Our sedation and comfort options work for fillings too.
Do fillings hurt afterward?
Mild cold sensitivity or tenderness when biting for a few days — sometimes up to two weeks — is normal settling as the nerve calms down after nearby drilling. What's not normal: pain that gets worse instead of better, a sharp jolt every time you bite (often just a high spot we can adjust in five minutes), or sensitivity that lingers past a few weeks. Call us for any of those — adjustments are quick and included. For the full picture of what sensitivity means and when to worry, see our tooth sensitivity guide.