Does getting a cavity filling hurt?

Most patients experience little to no discomfort. Dr. Greene uses a gentle approach and local anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. Any mild sensitivity afterward usually fades within a day or two.

Does insurance cover composite fillings in New Orleans?

Many dental insurance plans cover composite fillings, especially for visible teeth. Coverage varies by plan. Gleem Dental accepts most major insurance providers and our team can help verify your benefits before your appointment.

What happens if I leave a cavity untreated?

Untreated cavities continue to grow, reaching deeper layers of the tooth. This can lead to increased sensitivity, infection, and the need for more extensive treatment like a root canal or extraction. Early treatment preserves more of your natural tooth.

Restorative Dentistry • Natural-Looking Repairs

Tooth-Colored Fillings in New Orleans

Q: How long do tooth-colored fillings last?

With proper care, composite fillings typically last 5 to 10 years. Regular checkups help Dr. Greene monitor the condition of your filling and address any wear before it becomes a problem.

A cavity doesn't have to mean a mouthful of metal. At Gleem Dental, tooth-colored composite fillings repair decay and minor cracks with a mercury-free material that bonds directly to your tooth and blends in seamlessly. Dr. Caylin Greene shade-matches every filling for a flawless, natural result — completed in a single, comfortable visit at our Lakeview studio.

Book Appointment (504) 553-1393

Mercury-Free & Metal-Free

Shade-Matched to Your Smile

Completed in a Single Visit

Bonds Directly to the Tooth

◦ Beautifully Invisible

Repairs that blend
right in.

A tooth-colored filling uses a durable composite resin that bonds directly to your tooth to repair cavities, chips, and minor cracks. Shade-matched to your enamel, it restores strength and shape without a trace of metal.

Why Composite

More Than a Silver Filling

Unlike traditional amalgam, composite resin is completely mercury-free and metal-free. Because it bonds chemically to your tooth, Dr. Greene can remove only the decay itself — preserving more of your healthy natural enamel while reinforcing what remains.

Fillings Are Ideal For:

Repairing new cavities and tooth decay
Fixing minor chips, cracks, and wear
Replacing old, darkening metal fillings

What to Expect

One Visit, Fully Restored

Placing a tooth-colored filling is quick and comfortable. After gently numbing the area, Dr. Greene removes the decay, bonds and layers the composite, then sculpts and polishes it to match your smile — all in a single, unhurried appointment.

The Lasting Benefits:

Seamless, natural, metal-free appearance
Preserves more of your healthy tooth
Bonds to and reinforces the tooth

If a tooth is too damaged for a filling, we'll recommend a more protective option — never over- or under-treating.

◦ Weighing Options

Composite vs.
Metal Fillings.

Both repair a cavity, but they look and behave very differently. Here's how a tooth-colored composite filling compares to a traditional amalgam (metal) filling.

Related Treatments:

Inlays & Onlays•Crowns & Bridges

Feature	Composite Filling	Metal (Amalgam) Filling
Appearance	Tooth-colored — virtually invisible	Silver-gray metal, clearly visible
Mercury content	Mercury-free, metal-free composite	Contains roughly 50% mercury by weight
Bonding	Bonds chemically to the tooth	Held by mechanical shape, no bond
Tooth structure removed	Minimal — preserves healthy enamel	More drilling to lock the filling in
Aesthetics	Seamless, shade-matched finish	Darkens and can gray the tooth over time

◦ The Gleem Difference

Everyday repairs with an artist's touch.

Even a routine filling deserves care and precision. At Gleem, every repair is treated like cosmetic work.

Conservative, Tooth-Saving Prep.

Because composite bonds directly to enamel, Dr. Greene removes only the decay itself — preserving as much of your natural, healthy tooth as possible.

01 / PRECISION

Fillings That Disappear.

Each filling is layered and shade-matched to your surrounding enamel, then polished to a natural luster so no one can tell a repair was ever made.

02 / ARTISTRY

A Calm, Welcoming Experience.

From a gentle, unhurried chairside manner to our spa-like Lakeview studio, every filling appointment is designed to feel relaxed and reassuring.

03 / COMFORT

◦ Meet the doctor

An artist's eye.
A clinician's precision.

Dr. Caylin Greene earned her DDS from Howard University College of Dentistry in 2016 and brings more than 10 years of experience to her patients. In 2025 she founded Gleem to bring elevated, comprehensive cosmetic care to Lakeview — with advanced training in Invisalign and a quiet obsession with proportion, light, and facial harmony.

Education

Howard University, DDS

Experience

10+ years

Specialties

Invisalign · Cosmetic

Meet Dr. Greene Explore Services

Founder

Dr. Caylin Greene,
DDS

◦ Your Visit

Your filling, start to finish.

Getting a tooth-colored filling is a simple, single-visit process — and we guide you gently through every step.

Exam

Dr. Greene examines the tooth and reviews digital X-rays to confirm the extent of decay or damage and determine that a tooth-colored filling is the right repair.

Prepare

The area is gently numbed, and only the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth is removed. We preserve as much healthy enamel and structure as possible.

Bond & Shape

Tooth-colored composite is bonded directly to the tooth in thin layers, cured with a special light, then sculpted to restore the tooth's natural contour.

Polish

We fine-tune your bite and polish the filling to a smooth, natural shine — leaving you with a fully restored tooth in a single, comfortable visit.

◦ Frequently asked

Questions,
answered.

Are tooth-colored fillings safe and mercury-free?

Yes. Composite resin fillings contain no mercury and no metal at all — a key difference from traditional silver amalgam fillings, which are roughly half mercury by weight. Composite is a durable, biocompatible material that bonds directly to your tooth, making it both a safe and aesthetic choice for repairing cavities.

How long do tooth-colored fillings last?

With good oral hygiene and routine dental visits, tooth-colored fillings typically last many years. Their lifespan depends on the size and location of the filling and habits like grinding or chewing hard foods. Because composite bonds to the tooth, it also helps reinforce the remaining structure.

Does getting a filling hurt?

The area is gently numbed before treatment, so you shouldn't feel discomfort while the tooth is prepared and filled. Most patients are surprised how quick and easy the visit is. Any mild sensitivity afterward usually fades within a day or two.

Can I replace my old silver fillings with tooth-colored ones?

Yes. Many patients choose to replace worn or darkening amalgam fillings with tooth-colored composite for a more natural, seamless smile. If an old filling is very large or the tooth is significantly weakened, Dr. Greene may instead recommend inlays and onlays or a full crown for added strength.

Are tooth-colored fillings covered by insurance?

Most dental insurance plans cover tooth-colored fillings, though some may reimburse at the rate of a metal filling. Our team will review your benefits and financing options so you know what to expect before treatment — see our Insurance & Financing page for details.

◦ Begin

Dentistry that's
designed around you.

Whether it's a routine cleaning or a complete Invisalign journey, your first visit is the easy part. We'll handle the rest.

Book Your Visit (504) 553-1393