Madderra Dental Spa

Composite Fillings in San Francisco

Natural-looking, mercury-free tooth-colored fillings that restore cavities while preserving your healthy tooth structure and beautiful smile.

Book Your Consultation Call: (415) 552-9200

Beautiful Restorations That Look and Feel Natural

Composite fillings are the modern, mercury-free solution for treating cavities and restoring damaged teeth. Made from a biocompatible blend of tooth-colored resin and finely ground glass particles, composite fillings are carefully matched to your natural tooth color, making them virtually invisible. Unlike traditional silver (amalgam) fillings, composite fillings bond directly to your tooth structure, allowing us to preserve more of your healthy tooth while providing a strong, long-lasting restoration.

At Madderra Dental Spa, we believe that restorative dentistry should be both functional and beautiful. Our composite fillings not only treat decay effectively but also maintain the natural aesthetics of your smile. Whether you need a filling for a front tooth or a back molar, we use the highest-quality composite materials and meticulous techniques to ensure your restoration is seamless, comfortable, and built to last.

With over 34 years of experience, Dr. Madderra and Dr. Hofmann bring an artist's eye and a clinician's precision to every filling procedure. We take the time to match the exact shade and translucency of your tooth, sculpt the material to restore proper anatomy and bite, and polish it to a natural luster. The result is a restoration that not only protects your tooth from further decay but also enhances your confidence in your smile.

Composite filling procedure

When Are Composite Fillings Recommended?

Composite fillings are an excellent choice for patients in the Castro and greater San Francisco area who need:

  • Cavity Treatment: Restoring teeth affected by decay (cavities) with a natural-looking, durable material.
  • Replacing Old Fillings: Replacing worn, cracked, or unsightly silver (amalgam) fillings with tooth-colored restorations.
  • Repairing Chips or Cracks: Fixing minor damage to teeth caused by trauma or wear.
  • Front Tooth Restorations: Treating cavities in visible areas where aesthetics are paramount.
  • Mercury-Free Dentistry: Patients seeking biocompatible, mercury-free restorative options.
  • Conservative Treatment: Preserving maximum healthy tooth structure while effectively treating decay.

The Advantages of Composite Fillings

Natural Appearance

Tooth-colored composite resin is carefully matched to your natural tooth shade, making fillings virtually invisible and preserving your smile's aesthetics.

Preserves Tooth Structure

Composite fillings bond directly to your tooth, requiring minimal removal of healthy tooth structure compared to traditional amalgam fillings.

Mercury-Free & Safe

Made from biocompatible materials without mercury, composite fillings are a safe, health-conscious choice for patients of all ages.

Durable & Long-Lasting

Modern composite materials are strong and resilient, providing reliable protection against decay for 7-10+ years with proper care.

The Madderra Approach: Precision and Care in Every Restoration

With Dr. Madderra's 34+ years of experience, our practice has perfected the art and science of composite fillings. We combine meticulous technique with a conservative philosophy that prioritizes preserving your natural tooth structure while delivering restorations that are both beautiful and functional. Every filling is placed with precision, care, and an unwavering commitment to your long-term oral health and comfort.

The Composite Filling Procedure: What to Expect

  1. 1

    Numbing and Preparation

    We begin by applying local anesthesia to ensure you are completely comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure. Once the area is numb, we carefully remove the decayed portion of the tooth using precision instruments, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible.

  2. 2

    Shade Selection and Bonding

    We select a composite resin shade that perfectly matches the natural color and translucency of your tooth. The tooth surface is then treated with a special bonding agent that allows the composite material to adhere securely to your tooth structure, creating a strong, lasting bond.

  3. 3

    Layering and Sculpting

    The composite resin is applied in thin layers, with each layer being hardened using a special curing light. We carefully sculpt the material to restore the tooth's natural shape, contours, and anatomy, ensuring proper function and a seamless appearance.

  4. 4

    Bite Adjustment and Polishing

    Once the filling is shaped, we check and adjust your bite to ensure the restoration feels comfortable and natural when you chew. Finally, we polish the filling to a smooth, glossy finish that mimics the natural luster of tooth enamel, making it virtually indistinguishable from your natural tooth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Composite Fillings

With proper care and maintenance, composite fillings typically last 7 to 10 years, and often longer with excellent oral hygiene. The longevity depends on factors like the size and location of the filling, your bite forces, and your daily habits. Avoiding hard foods, not using your teeth as tools, and maintaining regular dental check-ups at our San Francisco practice will help maximize the life of your composite fillings.
Modern composite resin materials have advanced significantly and are now highly durable and strong enough for most cavity restorations, including moderate-sized fillings in back teeth. While traditional amalgam fillings may still be slightly more durable for very large restorations in high-stress areas, composite fillings offer the significant advantage of preserving more natural tooth structure, bonding directly to the tooth, and providing a completely natural appearance. For most patients, composite fillings are the ideal choice.
No, the composite filling procedure is generally comfortable and pain-free. We use local anesthesia to numb the treatment area completely, so you won't feel any discomfort during the procedure. Most patients report feeling only slight pressure. After the anesthesia wears off, you may experience minor sensitivity for a day or two, which is completely normal. Our spa-like environment and gentle approach ensure your comfort throughout the entire process.
Absolutely. One of the greatest advantages of composite fillings is their exceptional aesthetic quality. We carefully select a shade of composite resin that precisely matches the natural color of your tooth, making the filling virtually invisible to the naked eye. The material is then sculpted and polished to blend seamlessly with your tooth's natural contours and shine. Even you will have difficulty spotting the restoration.
Yes, composite fillings are completely safe and mercury-free. Unlike traditional amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, composite fillings are made from a biocompatible mixture of plastic resin and finely ground glass particles. They have been extensively tested and used successfully for decades. Many patients prefer composite fillings specifically because they want to avoid mercury exposure, making them an excellent choice for health-conscious individuals and families.
Caring for composite fillings is simple and identical to caring for your natural teeth. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily to remove plaque between teeth, and visit us for regular dental cleanings and exams every six months. Avoid chewing on hard objects like ice, pens, or hard candy, as excessive force can damage the filling. With proper care, your composite fillings will serve you well for many years.
Yes, composite fillings are ideal for front teeth because of their superior aesthetic qualities. They blend seamlessly with the natural tooth color and translucency, making them virtually undetectable. In fact, composite resin is the preferred material for restoring cavities in visible areas of the mouth. Whether you have a cavity on a front tooth or a back tooth, composite fillings provide both function and beauty.
One of the key benefits of composite fillings is that they require minimal removal of healthy tooth structure. Unlike amalgam fillings, which require the dentist to create a specific shape and undercuts in the tooth, composite resin bonds directly to the tooth surface. This means we can preserve more of your natural, healthy tooth structure while still providing a strong, durable restoration. This conservative approach aligns perfectly with our practice philosophy at Madderra Dental Spa.

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Ready to Restore Your Smile with Natural-Looking Fillings?

Schedule your consultation at Madderra Dental Spa and discover how composite fillings can treat cavities while preserving your beautiful, natural smile.

Request an Appointment Call: (415) 552-9200