Dental Fillings

At Golden Kids Dental & Orthodontics, we provide gentle pediatric dental fillings for children and teens throughout Golden, Lakewood, Arvada, Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Morrison, West Pleasant View, and surrounding Colorado communities. Dental fillings are one of the most common restorative treatments used to repair teeth affected by cavities and help restore healthy function and appearance.

Our experienced pediatric dental team focuses on providing comfortable, child friendly dental care while helping children maintain strong, healthy smiles as they grow.

What Are Pediatric Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are restorative materials used to repair teeth damaged by cavities or minor fractures. When tooth decay is removed, the filling material restores the tooth’s structure and helps prevent further damage or infection.

Pediatric dental fillings help:

Treat cavities in children
Restore tooth strength and function
Prevent cavities from worsening
Protect surrounding tooth structure
Maintain healthy smiles during development

Treating cavities early is important because untreated decay can lead to discomfort, infection, difficulty eating, and potential damage to surrounding teeth.

Signs Your Child May Have a Cavity

Some cavities may not cause symptoms right away, which is why routine pediatric dental exams are so important. Signs your child may need a dental filling can include:

Tooth sensitivity
Tooth pain
Visible holes or dark spots on teeth
Discomfort when eating sweets
Food getting stuck between teeth
Swelling or irritation around a tooth

Our pediatric dentists use gentle exams and digital X rays to detect cavities early and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Tooth Colored Fillings for Children

At Golden Kids Dental & Orthodontics, we commonly use tooth colored fillings to restore cavities in children’s teeth. These fillings are designed to blend naturally with the surrounding tooth structure while providing strong, durable protection.

Benefits of tooth colored fillings include:

Natural appearance
Strong bond to the tooth
Conservative treatment approach
Mercury free materials
Smooth, comfortable feel

Tooth colored fillings are commonly used for both baby teeth and permanent teeth in children and teens.

Glass Ionomer Fillings

Glass ionomer fillings are another type of tooth colored restorative material commonly used in pediatric dentistry. These fillings are made from acrylic and fine glass particles and contain fluoride that can help strengthen surrounding tooth structure and reduce the risk of future cavities.

Glass ionomer fillings may be recommended for:

Small cavities
Areas with lower chewing pressure
Young children
Temporary restorations
Teeth close to naturally falling out
Patients at higher risk for cavities

One important benefit of glass ionomer materials is their ability to slowly release fluoride over time, helping provide additional cavity protection around the restored tooth.

Our pediatric dentists carefully evaluate each child’s needs to determine the most appropriate filling material for long term oral health and comfort.

What to Expect During a Dental Filling Appointment

Our pediatric dental team works hard to make filling appointments comfortable and stress free for children.

During treatment:

The affected tooth is gently cleaned
Decayed tooth structure is removed
The tooth is prepared for the filling material
The filling is carefully placed and shaped
The bite is checked for comfort and function

We use child friendly communication and gentle techniques to help children feel relaxed throughout treatment.

For children with dental anxiety or extensive treatment needs, sedation dentistry options may also be available.

Preventing Cavities in Children

Preventive pediatric dental care is the best way to reduce the risk of cavities and future restorative treatment. Healthy habits that help protect children’s teeth include: