Can You Get a Filling Without the Drill? Laser Fillings in Nyack

If the sound of the drill is the part of a filling you dread most, you're far from alone, and it's often the reason people put off a small cavity until it becomes a bigger one. At our Nyack dental office, we do many fillings with the Fotona laser instead of a drill, and a lot of that smaller work doesn't need numbing at all. This post explains how a laser filling works, what the visit feels like, and why coming in early for a small cavity keeps the treatment simple.

Can a filling be done without a drill?

Yes, many can. Dr. Bodie is Fotona-trained, and the laser removes decay using light instead of a spinning drill. That means no drill noise and no vibration, and for many fillings, no injection. Dr. Bodie then repairs the cavity with a tooth-colored filling matched to your own tooth, and finishes it in the same visit.

Not every cavity is a laser case. A very large cavity or an old filling that needs replacing may still call for a different approach, and Dr. Bodie will tell you which one your tooth needs before anything starts.

What does a laser filling feel like?

A laser filling is calmer than most people expect, with no drill noise and no vibration. Because a lot of smaller laser fillings don't need numbing, many patients leave without a numb lip. If a tooth does need anesthetic, patients regularly tell us Dr. Bodie is gentle with injections because he takes them slowly.

Why does a laser make a better surface for a filling?

A drill leaves a thin layer of debris across the tooth, which dentists call a smear layer, and it can get in the way of the filling bonding properly. A laser preparation leaves a cleaner surface, so the tooth-colored filling bonds more effectively. The American Dental Association's guide to tooth-colored fillings explains how these composite fillings blend in with your natural teeth.

What if the cavity is very small?

Small, early cavities don't always need filling. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains that early tooth decay can be stopped or reversed before it becomes a hole in the tooth. At our Nyack dental office, we use a treatment called Curodont, which helps rebuild weakened enamel from within, so we can often treat a tiny spot before it ever needs a filling.

That only works early, which is one of the best reasons to keep up with your checkups. At each visit, we show you your teeth on a large screen, with color-coded charting that points out anything that has changed since last time, so you can see exactly what we're looking at.

How much does a laser filling cost in Nyack, NY?

Filling costs at our Nyack dental office depend on how big the cavity is and how many surfaces of the tooth it involves, so we quote every filling at your visit before treatment starts. Most dental plans contribute toward fillings, and we'll check your benefits first so you know the balance ahead of time. If you don't have insurance, our Wellness Plan includes fillings, and you can read about it on our insurance and payment options page.

When should you see a dentist about a cavity?

Book a visit if a tooth has become sensitive to cold or sweets, if you can feel a rough spot or a small hole with your tongue, or if it's simply been a while since your last checkup. Cavities tend to grow when they're left alone, and Mayo Clinic notes that untreated cavities get larger and reach deeper layers of the tooth. Coming in early usually means a smaller, simpler filling.

Our tooth-colored fillings page covers the treatment in more detail, and our laser dentistry page shows everything else the Fotona laser does at our office.

Frequently asked questions

Do laser fillings need numbing?

Many don't. Because the Fotona laser works without the noise and vibration of a drill, we do a lot of smaller fillings at our Nyack dental office with no numbing at all. If your tooth does need anesthetic, Dr. Bodie will tell you before he starts, and he takes injections slowly.

Can every cavity be filled with a laser?

Many can, and Dr. Bodie will tell you before treatment whether yours is one of them. A very large cavity, or an old filling that needs replacing, may need a different approach. In some of those cases an onlay or a crown is the stronger repair for the tooth.

How long does a laser filling take?

We finish a filling in one visit. Dr. Bodie cleans out the tooth, then places, shapes and polishes the tooth-colored filling, and you leave with it done. We can usually take care of several small fillings in the same appointment, which saves you extra trips to our Nyack dental office.

Can children have laser fillings?

Dr. Bodie treats children's fillings from about age ten on, and because he often uses the laser, a lot of that smaller work doesn't need numbing. For younger children who need a filling, we'll refer you to a pediatric dentist and tell you that up front.

Ready to take care of that tooth?

A small cavity is much easier to fix than a large one, and at our Nyack dental office we do many fillings with the laser and finish them in one visit. Call Nyack Family & Cosmetic Dentistry at 845-358-5110, or visit us at 51 North Broadway, Suite 1, Nyack, NY 10960. We see patients from Nyack, Piermont, West Nyack and across Rockland County.

Published by Nyack Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.