Gonzales Dental Care

Tooth Fillings & Dental Bonding in Gonzales, CA

Cavities happen. We fix them with tooth-colored fillings matched to your enamel — and use the same material to repair chips and close small gaps.

Catching cavities while they’re cheap

A cavity is decay eating through the enamel of a tooth. Small ones are quiet — no pain, no visible hole — which is exactly when they’re easiest and least expensive to fix. By the time a tooth aches, a filling may no longer be enough. That’s the honest case for regular exams: they turn root canals into fillings.

When we do find one, the repair is straightforward: numb the tooth, remove the decay, and rebuild the spot with composite resin shaded to match your enamel. The result disappears into your smile — no gray metal.

What bonding can fix

The same composite material, sculpted by hand, handles a surprising range of small cosmetic problems in a single visit:

  • A chipped corner on a front tooth
  • Small gaps between teeth
  • Worn or uneven edges
  • A tooth that’s slightly short or misshapen compared to its neighbors

Bonding is conservative — little or no drilling — and affordable compared to crowns or porcelain work. It’s not indestructible: biting fingernails and opening packages with your teeth will shorten its life. We’ll tell you plainly whether bonding will hold up in your bite or whether a crown is the sturdier call.

Questions we hear a lot

Will I be numb? Does it hurt?
We numb the tooth thoroughly before we start, and we check that you’re numb before drilling. Most fillings are a one-visit, under-an-hour appointment. Expect some dullness for a few hours afterward while the anesthetic wears off.
How long does a filling last?
A well-placed composite filling commonly lasts many years — often five to ten or more, depending on its size, where it is, and how you care for it. We check your existing fillings at every exam and tell you when one is starting to fail, not after it has.
My tooth is sensitive after a filling. Is that normal?
Mild sensitivity to cold or biting for a few days to a couple of weeks is common, especially with deeper fillings. If it’s getting worse instead of better, or lasts beyond a few weeks, call us — sometimes a small bite adjustment fixes it.
Is bonding the same as a veneer?
No. Bonding sculpts tooth-colored resin directly onto the tooth in one visit — it’s the quicker, more affordable fix for chips, small gaps, and worn edges. It’s a great option for many situations; at your exam we’ll tell you honestly whether it will hold up for yours.
What does a filling cost?
It depends on the size of the cavity and how many surfaces of the tooth it involves. You’ll get the exact price in writing after the exam, before any work starts — with insurance checked first if you have it.

Ready when you are.

Call us, or send an appointment request and we'll get back to you. Hablamos español.

Request an appointment (831) 240-0865