Your Tooth, Treated. Your Smile, Unchanged
Nobody wants a reminder of a cavity sitting in their mouth every time they laugh or open wide at the dentist. The old silver filling announced itself. You saw it; your dentist saw it; anyone close enough saw it.
Dr. Hay uses tooth-colored composite resin fillings exclusively. The shade is matched to your natural tooth before placement, so what you get back looks like a tooth, full stop. No dark spots. No metallic glint.
Beyond appearance, composite resin bonds directly to your tooth structure. That means less drilling to place it, and a restored tooth that holds together as one unit.
Why Even Small Cavities Deserve Serious Attention
When decay reaches the inner layers of a tooth, leaving it alone means losing more teeth over time. A filling stops that progression before a simple fix becomes something far more involved.
With composite resin, you get:
- Only the decayed tissue is removed, so as much healthy tooth as possible stays intact
- A material that bonds directly to your tooth structure for a secure, lasting hold
- A shade matched to your natural tooth so the restoration disappears into your smile
Dr. Hay runs a strictly mercury-free practice. We use no mercury. We use white and gold.
Your Fast, Low-Fuss Filling Appointment
Most fillings take a single appointment. Here is how it goes:
Shade matching
Before any work begins, the composite resin shade is selected to match your surrounding tooth. The goal is a result that reads as a natural tooth, not a restoration.
Decay removal
Only the affected tissue is cleared. Composite resin requires less removal than older amalgam techniques, so more of your healthy tooth stays intact.
Bonding and shaping.
The resin is applied in layers, each cured with a focused light. Dr. Hay shapes and polishes the final surface to match your bite and the natural contours of the tooth.
Final check.
You’ll bite down on articulating paper so Dr. Hay can confirm the fill sits evenly. Any minor adjustments are made before you leave.
Anxious About Getting a Filling?
If you’re putting off a cavity, anxiety is usually why. Dr. Hay will walk through every step with you before anything happens. And if you need more than that, deep sedation dentistry is available, including full sleep dentistry. You won’t feel a thing, and you’ll wake up with a healthier smile.
35 Years of Getting It Right the First Time
Over three decades in Paducah, Dr. Hay has built his reputation on one thing: work that lasts and looks the part. His advanced training informs how he approaches every restoration, but what patients notice most is that he takes the time.
He explains what he is doing, answers every question, and makes sure the result looks and feels right before you leave.
When a Filling Is Just the Beginning
Sometimes a tooth needs more than a filling to stay healthy long-term. If decay has reached the nerve, a root canal clears the infection and saves the tooth. If the structural damage is more extensive, a dental crown wraps the tooth for full protection.
For patients who have a number of teeth that need attention at once, Dr. Hay puts together a full treatment plan from the start, so you know every step before it happens. You can see what that looks like on our full mouth reconstruction page.
If it has been a while since your last visit, take a look at our $99 new patient special. It covers a comprehensive exam, X-rays, and a full conversation about where your oral health stands and what you need.
Ready to Get That Tooth Sorted?
A filling is one of the quickest, most effective things dentistry can do for you. Catch decay now, and you protect the tooth. Leave it, and a simple fix becomes a bigger one.
Dr. Hay has seen just about everything in his years of practice. He will tell you exactly what is needed and why. The same standard he holds for his own family, he holds for yours.
Call 270-554-0121 About UsMost composite resin fillings last between 7 and 10 years, though plenty go well beyond that. It comes down to the size of the filling, where the tooth sits in your mouth, and how well you look after your teeth day to day. Dr. Hay checks your fillings at every exam and will let you know if anything needs attention before it becomes a bigger issue.
The area is numbed before any work begins, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the appointment. Some sensitivity to hot and cold in the days afterward is normal and settles on its own. If the idea of the appointment itself makes you nervous, we have comprehensive sedation options.
Yes, and it’s something a lot of patients ask about. When an existing amalgam filling wears out or cracks, replacing it with a tooth-colored option is an uncomplicated process. Dr. Hay will take a look and only recommend replacing it when it actually makes sense to do so.
For most cavities, yes. The material adheres directly to your tooth, helping hold the surrounding structure together rather than working against it the way older metal fillings can over time. For very large restorations in back teeth that take a lot of chewing force, Dr. Hay will be upfront with you about whether a crown is the better call.
If decay has reached the nerve, the tooth needs more than a filling at that point. A root canal removes the infection and keeps the tooth intact. It sounds daunting, but it is what stops the pain for good. Dr. Hay will explain exactly what is going on and what your best options are.