Do baby teeth really need fillings?

Yes, when they have cavities. Decay in a baby tooth spreads, causes pain, and can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Treating it protects your child now and their adult smile later.

What happens during a filling appointment for a child?

We explain everything in kid terms first, use the comfort options that fit your child, remove the decay, and bond the white filling in place — usually all in one short visit. You do not need to explain the steps to them or mention the word “Shot.” Just encourage them to listen to the dentist and watch their shows.

How long do white fillings last on baby teeth?

Typically until the tooth falls out on its own schedule. Modern resin materials hold up very well in children, and we check every filling at each regular visit.

White Fillings for Children

Gentle repairs

When a cavity needs filling, we use tooth-colored, resin-bonded materials that blend into the smile — and we never place silver.

New PatientsGet Started Here

A child in a red shirt enjoys a playful moment with a dentist, sharing a high five while seated in a dental chair, holding a blue plush shark.

Why fill a baby tooth?

Because a cavity never stays small on its own. Left alone, decay spreads deeper into the tooth, starts to hurt, and can infect the adult tooth developing underneath. A small filling now prevents a big problem later.

And small is the whole strategy: the earlier we treat, the shorter the visit, the less tooth we touch, and the easier the experience for your child.

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silver fillings

We only place white, resin-bonded fillings. No amalgam, ever.

Modern materials, clear answers:

White (resin-bonded) fillings

Bond directly to the tooth — often preserving more healthy structure
Look natural, blend into the smile
Materials have improved dramatically over the past decade
No mercury, no metal

Already have silver fillings?

We're happy to evaluate fillings placed elsewhere
Often, a filling that's doing its job is best left alone
If replacement makes sense, we'll tell you why — and if it doesn't, we'll tell you that too

We never place silver fillings, and we never fill a tooth that doesn't need it.

What to expect:

1

We show you first.

You'll see what we see — where the cavity is, how big it is, and why a filling is (or isn't) the right call.

2

Comfort options, sized to your child.

From going slow with warmth and humor, to nitrous oxide, to more when it's truly needed.

3

In and out.

Most fillings are quick, single-visit procedures. Your child leaves with a repaired tooth and, just as important, a good memory of the visit.

A smiling woman with long, light brown hair and glasses, standing in an office setting adorned with framed certificates, exuding a friendly and professional demeanor.

Dr. Trahan is a board-certified pediatric dentist whose research background includes the development of novel antimicrobial dental materials.

The materials in your child's mouth are ones she knows down to the chemistry.

Did You Know?

What parents think they know about fillings is often a generation out of date.

Misconception White fillings contain the same mercury as silver ones.

what's actually true

Resin fillings contain no mercury. That concern belongs to amalgam — which we don’t place.

Misconception Once a tooth is filled, it can’t get another cavity.

what's actually true

New decay can form at the edges of any filling. Brushing, flossing, and checkups protect the repaired tooth just like every other one.

Misconception Fillings are permanent.

what's actually true

Fillings in baby teeth serve until the tooth naturally falls out; fillings in adult teeth can last many years but need monitoring. That’s one reason regular checkups matter after treatment.

Misconception If a filling is small, you can just wait and watch.

what's actually true

Small is exactly when to treat — smaller fillings mean shorter visits, less tooth removed, and easier experiences for your child. Waiting only makes it bigger.

Misconception Getting a filling is always a traumatic experience for a kid.

what's actually true

With behavior guidance, gentle technique, and the right comfort options, most children handle fillings far better than their parents expect.

Misconception All dentists still use metal fillings.

what's actually true

We place only white, resin-bonded fillings. We don’t use amalgam (silver) fillings in our practice at all.

Misconception White fillings are weaker than silver ones.

what's actually true

Modern resin materials have improved dramatically and hold up very well in children — they bond directly to the tooth, which can mean keeping more healthy tooth structure. White resin fillings can only be used to treat small cavities, so early detection with X-rays is necessary.

Misconception A cavity in a baby tooth doesn’t need to be filled.

what's actually true

Decay spreads, causes pain, and can infect the developing adult tooth. Treating cavities in baby teeth protects your child now and their adult smile later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Real answers to the questions parents ask us every day — from first visits to braces, brushing to sedation.

In our practice, we only place white (resin-bonded) fillings. These materials have improved dramatically over the past decade — they bond to the tooth, look natural, and hold up well in children. We do not place silver-colored (amalgam) fillings at all. If your child has older silver fillings from another office, we’re happy to evaluate them and talk through whether replacement makes sense — often, a filling that’s doing its job is best left alone.