Dental Fillings in Edmonton: Protect Enamel with Composite Resin
Gallery Dental provides mercury-free restorations that preserve your natural teeth.
Gallery Dental
Modern Dental Fillings That Preserve Natural Tooth Structure
With modern dental innovations, getting a cavity doesn’t mean you need to lose half your tooth! At Gallery Dental in Edmonton, Dr. Sekhon practices conservative dentistry: a philosophy that prioritizes preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible while completely removing decay.
Unlike the aggressive drilling approach of decades past, modern cavity treatment combines advanced detection technology with tooth-colored composite materials that bond directly to your enamel. This means smaller fillings, less discomfort, and teeth that remain strong for years to come!
The Gallery Dental difference: The key difference in our approach? We catch cavities early (often before they’re visible on standard X-rays!) using bright light transillumination technology.
5 Signs You Might Need a Filling
Watch for these common indicators of tooth decay:
Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures that lingers after the stimulus is gone
Food frequently gets stuck in the same spot between teeth
A visible dark spot, rough area, or small hole on the tooth surface
Dental floss shreds or catches when cleaning between specific teeth
Sharp pain when biting down on hard foods
If you’re experiencing three or more of these symptoms, schedule an examination to prevent the cavity from growing larger and possibly needing major restorative work!
Catching Cavities Early With Transillumination Technology
Think of transillumination like shining a flashlight through your hand. you can see structures beneath the surface that aren’t visible from the outside. Transillumination works the same way with teeth! A specialized bright light passes through your tooth enamel, revealing internal decay as dark shadows that wouldn’t yet appear on traditional X-rays.
Why Early Cavity Detection Matters
Cavities grow from the inside out. By the time decay is visible on an X-ray or you can see a dark spot, the cavity has often spread significantly beneath the surface. Transillumination catches this process much earlier in the cycle.
The practical benefit for you? When we identify decay at this early stage, we can remove only the damaged portion and place a small, conservative filling, often just a fraction of the size that would be needed if we waited for the cavity to become visible through conventional methods. Also, if the cavity gets too large, we may have to consider a crown or even extraction!
Patient advantage: Smaller fillings mean less drilling, less anesthesia, shorter appointments, and more of your natural tooth structure preserved. Early detection can save tooth structure that would otherwise need to be removed.
Mercury-Free Composite Fillings: Stronger and Safer
Gallery Dental exclusively uses tooth-colored composite resin materials: no mercury, no metal, no dark gray spots in your smile. But the benefits of composite fillings go far beyond aesthetics.
2026 Standardized Restorative Fees
| Modern Composite Fillings | Traditional Silver Amalgam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bonding Method | Chemical adhesion directly to tooth structure | Mechanical retention (wedge-shaped cavity) |
| Tooth Preparation | Minimal—only decay removal needed | Extensive—requires undercut shape |
| Strength | Reinforces and supports remaining tooth | Strong material, but weakens tooth walls |
| Appearance | Matches natural tooth color perfectly | Visible dark gray color |
| Mercury Content | Zero—completely metal-free | Contains 50% mercury by weight |
How Chemical Bonding Preserves Tooth Structure
Here’s the fundamental difference: silver amalgam fillings work like a wedge driven into wood. The dentist has to drill an undercut shape (wider at the bottom than the top) so the filling stays locked in place mechanically. This requires removing healthy tooth structure just to create the right shape.
Composite resin works completely differently. It bonds chemically to your tooth enamel and dentin through a process that creates molecular-level adhesion. Dr. Sekhon only needs to remove the decayed portion of your tooth, with no extra drilling to create retention shapes. The composite bonds directly to what’s left, actually strengthening the remaining tooth structure!
How Long Do Composite Fillings Last?
Properly placed composite restorations typically maintain their structural integrity for 7-10 years with standard care. Some patients get even longer lifespans from their fillings, depending on factors like:
- Oral hygiene: Brushing twice daily and flossing once daily prevents new decay around the filling edges
- Diet: Limiting acidic beverages and frequent snacking reduces enamel erosion
- Grinding habits: Wearing a nightguard if you clench or grind protects against excessive wear
- Regular checkups: Professional cleanings every six months catch small issues before they become big problems
The composite materials we use are exceptionally durable and resist staining better than older-generation materials. With proper care, your tooth-colored fillings will serve you well for many years!
The long-term advantage: Teeth with composite fillings are less likely to fracture because the bonded material supports and reinforces the natural tooth walls. Silver amalgam fillings, by contrast, can act like wedges that eventually crack the tooth as the metal expands and contracts with temperature changes.
How Much Do Dental Fillings Cost in Edmonton?
At Gallery Dental, we believe in complete pricing transparency. We align our fees with the 2026 Alberta Dental Fee Guide, which standardizes costs across the province so you can plan your dental investment with confidence.
2026 Provincial Standards for Composite Fillings:
These are the suggested fees according to the 2026 Alberta Dental Fee Guide. Additional surfaces or complex restorations may have different fees.
| One-surface filling on an adult molar: | $210.80 |
| Two-surface filling on an adult molar: | $268.75 |
| Three+ surface filling on an adult molar (large cavity): | Varies by complexity |
What Affects the Cost of Your Filling?
A tooth has five surfaces (top, front, back, and two sides). A small cavity on just the chewing surface is one-surface. A cavity that extends between teeth involves two or more surfaces.
Most dental insurance plans cover 80-100% of filling costs when decay is present. We’re happy to submit pre-authorization requests so you know your coverage before treatment begins.
Digital Precision for Large Cavities with iTero Digital Scans
For larger cavities or fillings that need to restore the contact point between teeth, Dr. Sekhon uses the iTero Element 3D digital scanner to ensure perfect fit and function.
The iTero digital scanning device creates a precise 3D map of your tooth and the surrounding anatomy. Dr. Sekhon can see exactly where the contact points should be and shape the filling accordingly before it’s permanently placed. This eliminates the guesswork and errors that come with using traditional impressions.
Preventing Food Traps and Secondary Decay
One of the most common problems with large fillings is getting the contact point wrong (the spot where your tooth touches the adjacent tooth). If this contact is too tight, floss won’t fit through. If it’s too loose, food gets packed between your teeth every time you eat (which is not only incredibly annoying, but also potentially damaging).
Proper contact points also prevent “dental drift”, which is the tendency of teeth to shift position when gaps exist. When your filling maintains the correct spacing, your teeth stay properly aligned and easier to clean, reducing your risk of future cavities.
Margin Fit That Seals Out Bacteria
The edge where your filling meets your natural tooth (called the margin) is the most vulnerable spot for future decay. Bacteria can infiltrate even microscopic gaps, causing secondary cavities underneath the filling.
Digital imaging allows Dr. Sekhon to verify the margin seal visually on screen during the procedure, ensuring there are no gaps where bacteria could enter. This level of precision simply isn’t possible with traditional techniques that rely on tactile feel alone.
Oral Conscious Sedation for Anxious Patients
Dental anxiety is one of the main reasons people avoid getting cavities treated. However, putting off fillings only allows the decay to grow larger and more invasive to repair. Dr. Sekhon understands this completely and offers solutions to help nervous patients feel comfortable.
Oral Conscious Sedation for Stress-Free Dental Treatments
For patients who feel anxious about dental work, we provide oral conscious sedation. You take a prescribed medication about an hour before your appointment, and by the time you arrive at our Edmonton office, you’re in a calm, dream-like state.
You remain conscious and able to respond to instructions, but most patients describe feeling completely relaxed and unconcerned about the procedure. Many report having little to no memory of the appointment afterward—just the relief of having the work completed without stress.
Who Benefits From Oral Sedation?
This approach is ideal if you:
- Experience significant dental anxiety or fear
- Have a strong gag reflex that makes dental work uncomfortable
- Need extensive restorative work and want to complete it in fewer visits
- Have had traumatic dental experiences in the past
What to expect: Most patients remember very little about their appointment once the medication wears off. You’ll need someone to drive you home, but by the next day, you’ll feel completely normal, with a beautiful new filling and no memory of anxiety!
Don’t Let Cavities Grow Larger!
The earlier we catch tooth decay, the smaller and less invasive your filling needs to be. Our transillumination technology identifies cavities at their earliest stages—often before you experience any symptoms at all.
Gallery Dental’s conservative approach, mercury-free materials, and anxiety-free sedation options make cavity treatment as comfortable and minimally invasive as possible. Schedule your consultation today with Dr. Sekhon and protect your natural tooth structure!
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