White Cavity Fillings For Kids In Dacono, CO
Safe, Mercury Free, Tooth Colored Fillings That Protect Your Child's Smile
Gentle Cavity Treatment Your Child Can Feel Good About
Your child has a cavity and someone said "filling." Before you book it, 2 things are worth 4 minutes.
A white filling is tooth-colored composite resin with no mercury in it, and it is what we place at Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry for every child who needs one. We have never placed a silver amalgam filling in this office.
A filling is also not the right answer for every cavity, and the published evidence on how long one lasts is not what most dental websites tell you. Both of those are below.
Dr. Alison Grover is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, 15 minutes from Dacono in Erie Commons.
Is a Filling Even the Right Fix?
For a small cavity on 1 surface of a tooth, yes. For a large cavity that wraps 2 or more surfaces of a back molar, often no, and a filling placed there is the appointment you repeat.
In 2023 the American Dental Association published an evidence-based guideline on restorative treatments for caries lesions that ranks materials by tooth type and lesion type. For baby back teeth it prioritizes resin composite, resin-modified glass ionomer and preformed crowns, and it de-prioritizes amalgam and compomer for both pit-and-fissure and between-the-teeth cavities. The panel rated its own recommendations conditional at very low certainty, which is worth knowing and is more than most pages will tell you.
The practical read: on a baby molar, a crown is a legitimate first choice, not a fallback.
The filling or crown check
We answer these 5 out loud, on your child's own X-ray, before anything gets scheduled.
-
How many surfaces of the tooth does the decay touch? One favors a filling. Two or more on a molar favors a crown.
-
How close is the decay to the nerve?
-
How many years does this tooth still have before it falls out on its own?
-
Can your child hold still and stay dry long enough for a bonded restoration? This one decides more than parents expect. See the next section.
-
What is this child's risk of a new cavity next to the old one in the next 12 months?
If the answer is a crown, it does not have to be silver. We place white zirconia crowns on back teeth, so nothing metal shows. For the right cavity we also place Hall technique crowns, which seat over the tooth with no drilling and no injection. Both are on our dental crowns for kids in Dacono page.
How Long a White Filling Actually Lasts
Most sites say 5 to 7 years. The published data on baby teeth does not support that, and we would rather you hear the real number from us.
A systematic review of 31 studies covering restorations in primary teeth put composite at a 79.3% success rate, with annual failure between 1.7% and 12.9% depending on the study.
Stainless steel crowns came in at 96.1%. Resin-modified glass ionomer at 93.6%. A separate 2-year randomized trial in children aged 4 to 8 found composite restorations in primary molars surviving at 60.4% with rubber dam isolation and 54.3% with cotton rolls, a difference small enough that the authors called cotton roll isolation non-inferior.
So a white filling in a baby molar is not a 7-year appliance. It is a repair with a real failure rate, and the tooth usually falls out before the question becomes academic.
What actually causes the failure
New decay around the edge of the old filling. In that review, secondary caries accounted for 36.5% of every failure recorded, more than fracture, wear and loss combined.
That is the sentence that should change what you do next. The material is not the variable. The next cavity is.
Here is the part specific to Dacono. Your municipal water is fluoridated at 0.70 ppm, which is exactly the level the US Public Health Service set as the national target in 2015. Your child is not short on fluoride from the tap. Which means the cavity we are filling is far more likely a frequency problem than a fluoride problem. How often sugar hits the teeth, and for how long, matters more here than one more product.
The other variable is keeping the tooth dry
Composite bonds to enamel. Bonding fails if the tooth gets wet during placement, which is why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states plainly that where isolation or cooperation is in question, composite may not be the material of choice, and that resins are technique sensitive and take longer to place than amalgam.
We would rather solve that than hand you a compromise. A child who cannot hold still gets nitrous oxide, a movie and a partly upright chair before we start, not a downgraded filling.
Why We Do Not Place Silver Fillings
Because for a child, the regulatory picture moved and the material rankings moved with it.
In September 2020 the FDA issued a safety communication naming 5 higher-risk groups and recommending they avoid dental amalgam where possible. Children, especially those under age 6, are on that list, alongside pregnant and nursing women, people with mercury sensitivity, and people with neurological or kidney conditions. The European Union went further and banned the use of dental amalgam from January 1, 2025, leaving only narrow exceptions a dentist has to justify case by case. And the 2023 ADA guideline above de-prioritizes amalgam for baby back teeth on clinical grounds separate from the mercury question.
We were mercury free before any of that. It is simply no longer a preference we have to defend.
We will not replace the silver fillings your child already has
The FDA is explicit on this one: intact amalgam fillings should not be removed to prevent disease unless removal is medically necessary. Drilling out a sound filling costs healthy tooth structure and releases mercury vapor during the removal itself.
If a parent asks us to swap sound silver fillings for white ones, we say no and explain why. That conversation costs us chair time we could bill. It is still the right answer.
What about BPA in white fillings?
Fair question, and the honest answer has 2 parts.
BPA is not an ingredient in dental composite. It is used in making bis-GMA, one of the resin monomers, so trace amounts can remain. Studies measuring children after placement find a small, temporary rise in saliva and urine that clears within 24 to 48 hours, and the ADA lists post-placement steps that reduce it further: rinse the surface with air and water, suction, and have the patient rinse after curing.
We do all 3 on every restoration, every time. Ask us at the appointment and we will show you.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has a Cavity?
Usually you cannot, which is the whole argument for a checkup every 6 months.
Early decay is silent. By the time there are symptoms, watch for sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet food, chewing on one side only, or a complaint that comes and goes with no obvious trigger. Look for white, brown or black spots on the tooth surface, and for actual pits or holes in advanced cases.
On timing: decay moves faster through a baby tooth than an adult tooth, because primary enamel is thinner. Published research on primary teeth found a lesion took an average of about 10 months to travel from the outer enamel to the dentin junction, then roughly another 17 months to reach inner dentin. A 6-month recall is built to catch it while it is shallow and cheap. If your child is in pain now, do not wait for the recall. Cavities in baby teeth reach the nerve on their own schedule.
What Actually Happens at the Appointment
About 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the cavity. Here is the sequence.
Your child picks 3 things before we start
The flavor of the cleaning paste, the flavor of the fluoride, and a movie from a library of more than 70 titles, playing on a ceiling-mounted screen. Small choices, over an appointment they did not agree to. Control is what most dental fear comes down to.
Every chair reclines partially, so a child who will not lie flat still gets treated sitting up. Parents are welcome in the room, no conditions. If your child has been through a bad filling appointment somewhere else, we can start with a happy visit instead, where they see the room, meet the team, and leave with nothing done.
X-rays without leaving the chair
We take X-rays in the treatment room with a handheld unit that works like a camera. Your child stays put and the movie keeps playing. Sensors are sized for a child's mouth, not scaled down from an adult's, which is the difference between a bitewing that works the first time and 3 attempts.
Comfort, at 3 levels
Nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas, is plumbed into every treatment room here, so a child who needs it does not get moved anywhere. Moderate sedation is the middle option and is often all a child needs to get through a restoration. Deep sedation is available for children who need more. Most offices in this area offer laughing gas or full general anesthesia and nothing in between, which leaves families choosing between too little and too much. Details are on our sedation options page.
Once your child is relaxed, we numb the area completely. We use a no-scary-words policy, so nobody in the room says needle, drill or shot. We do not move on until your child is comfortable.
Removing the decay and placing the filling
We remove decayed tooth structure with child-sized instruments and keep as much healthy tooth as possible. The 2023 ADA guideline prioritizes selective removal over drilling out every last bit on advanced lesions, and we follow it. Your child feels pressure, not pain.
The composite goes in layers. A curing light hardens each one, bonding it to the enamel. We shape and polish to your child's bite, then rinse.
And then it is over
Kids pick a prize from the prize tower. If the visit ends with fluoride, our varnish carries no waiting rule, so your child can eat and drink on the drive home instead of waiting 4 to 6 hours.
Why Treating Cavities In Baby Teeth Matters
Because a baby tooth with untreated decay causes problems the permanent tooth inherits.
Pain and infection. Decay that reaches the pulp causes real pain, disrupted sleep, and infection that does not stay in the mouth.
Space for the permanent tooth. Primary teeth hold the position their replacements will need. Lose one early to decay and the neighboring teeth drift into the gap, which is one of the routes to orthodontic treatment later. Our team will tell you at the exam whether the gap would need a space maintainer.
Eating and speech. Children with a painful tooth stop chewing on that side and start avoiding food that needs work, which usually means the crunchy things. Front teeth also do real work in forming certain sounds.
Ten Situations That Bring Families To Our Office
-
A checkup found a cavity and you want a mercury free option
-
You saw a dark spot or a hole on your child's tooth
-
Your child complains of pain or sensitivity with certain foods
-
Another office quoted a silver crown and you want to know whether a white one works for that tooth
-
A previous filling appointment went badly and you need a different approach
-
Your current dentist offers only amalgam for children
-
Your child has several cavities and you want a pediatric specialist, not a general office that also sees kids
-
You want to be in the room during treatment
-
Your child has dental anxiety, autism or sensory needs and needs a team that has done this before
-
Your family is new to Dacono, Frederick, Firestone or Erie and needs a dental home
We also see newborns, including for tongue tie evaluation, before any teeth arrive.
Getting Here From Dacono
We are at 61 Erie Pkwy, Unit 101, in the Erie Commons shopping area at the corner of Briggs Street and Erie Parkway, between I-25 and US-287. About 15 minutes from Dacono down the I-25 corridor. Surface parking directly outside, no structure and no meters. Under 5 minutes from most local schools.
We see families from Dacono, Frederick, Firestone, Fort Lupton, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield, Boulder, Westminster, Thornton, Johnstown, Berthoud, Brighton, Arvada and Longmont.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Fillings for Children
How long do white fillings last? White fillings typically last 5-7 years in children, which is often sufficient for primary teeth that will eventually fall out. With good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, white fillings can last even longer in permanent teeth.
Are white fillings more expensive than silver fillings? White fillings may have a slightly higher initial cost, but we believe the aesthetic, health, and structural benefits make them the superior choice for your child. We work with various insurance providers and offer payment options to make this quality care accessible.
My child is anxious about getting a filling. How do you handle this? At Mini Miners, we specialize in helping anxious children feel comfortable. We use positive language, offer distractions like ceiling TVs, take things at your child's pace, and celebrate every success. Many children who were initially nervous end up enjoying their visits to our office! Learn more about how we help kids with dental anxiety.
Are white fillings safe for children? Yes. Composite fillings are considered safe by the American Dental Association and are widely used in pediatric dentistry. They contain no mercury and are made from biocompatible materials. The composite resin bonds directly to the tooth, creating a secure, protective seal.
Monday 8 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 8 AM-5 PM
Thursday 8 AM–5 PM
Friday 8 AM–3:30 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
Copyright © 2025 Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry. All rights reserved.
Mini Miners Pediatric Dentistry
61 Erie Pkwy, Unit 101
Erie, CO 80516
Phone: (303) 500-3202
Text: (720) 734-5890
Email: MiniMinersPD@gmail.com
Fax: (303) 552-3700