Compassionate Restorative Care at Times Square Dental
Dealing with a cavity can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but treating tooth decay promptly is essential for maintaining your overall oral health. Since opening our doors in 1997, Times Square Dental has been a trusted provider of comprehensive care in Boise, ID, and the surrounding Ada County. Our dedicated team is led by Dr. Jon Hastings, a native of Idaho Falls who continues his advanced training at the prestigious Kois Center, and Dr. Katie Travelle, who brings over a decade of private practice experience from Seattle to her new Idaho community. We understand that discovering you have a cavity can be stressful, which is why we focus on providing efficient, patient-centered solutions.
When you are searching for a “dentist’s office near you” to handle decay, you want a team that prioritizes both your comfort and the aesthetic results of your treatment. At Times Square Dental, we utilize modern materials to provide high-quality tooth fillings that repair damage while blending flawlessly with your natural enamel. Our goal is to stop decay in its tracks, restore the structural integrity of your tooth, and help you get back to enjoying your everyday life without pain or sensitivity.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not wait for the pain to worsen. Call our Boise dentist office for affordable restorative dental care today at 208-343-1981 to schedule an evaluation.
Recognizing the Signs You Need a Filling 
Tooth decay often begins silently, with small cavities forming long before you ever feel a twinge of pain. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When these bacteria feed on the sugars in your diet, they produce acids that slowly erode your tooth enamel. If this erosion is not caught early during routine exams, it can break through the enamel and create a small hole, or cavity.
While regular check-ups are the best way to detect decay early, your body will eventually send signals that a tooth needs attention. You might experience a sharp pain when biting down, a lingering sensitivity to hot or cold beverages, or a sudden ache when eating sweet foods. In some cases, you may even be able to feel a rough spot or see a visible hole or dark stain on the surface of your tooth.
The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings
In the past, treating a cavity meant receiving a silver amalgam filling. While durable, these metal restorations were highly visible and could darken the overall appearance of a tooth over time. Today, modern restorative dentistry focuses on solutions that are both functional and visually appealing. At Times Square Dental, we predominantly use composite resin, also known as tooth-colored fillings.
Composite resin is a specialized mixture of plastic and fine glass particles that can be shade-matched to the exact color of your natural teeth. Beyond their cosmetic advantages, tooth-colored fillings offer several structural benefits. Because the resin chemically bonds directly to the tooth structure, it provides additional support and requires less removal of the healthy enamel compared to traditional metal options.
- Aesthetic appeal: Blends seamlessly with your surrounding teeth.
- Conservative treatment: Preserves more of your natural tooth structure.
- Reduced sensitivity: Does not conduct hot and cold temperatures the way metal does.
To learn more about how composite restorations can improve your smile, contact our knowledgeable team at 208-343-1981.
The Filling Procedure: What to Expect 
Getting a cavity filled is one of the most common and straightforward procedures we perform at Times Square Dental. We have refined our process to ensure that your visit is as quick and comfortable as possible. Before we begin, Dr. Hastings or Dr. Travelle will thoroughly examine the affected tooth, often utilizing our digital radiography or Iris Intraoral Cameras to determine the exact size and depth of the decay.
Once the cavity is assessed, we start by applying a local anesthetic to numb the area, ensuring you feel no pain during the procedure. After the tooth is numb, we carefully remove the decayed portion of the enamel and thoroughly clean the space to remove any remaining bacteria. The custom-matched composite resin is then applied in layers, with each layer hardened instantly using a specialized curing light. Finally, we shape and polish the restoration so it perfectly matches the contours of your natural bite.
If you suspect you have a cavity that needs attention, reach out to “dentists near you” who prioritize precision. Call us at 208-343-1981 to book your appointment.
Overcoming Dental Anxiety
We know that for many patients, the mere thought of a dental drill can trigger significant anxiety. If fear has been keeping you from getting the restorative care you need, you are not alone, and we are here to help. At Times Square Dental, we believe that taking care of your oral health should never be a traumatic experience. We have designed our practice environment to be soothing, equipped with ceiling-mounted flat-screen TVs in every care room so you can distract yourself with your favorite entertainment.
For patients who need additional help relieving dental anxiety, we offer several safe and effective sedation options. Depending on your level of apprehension, we can provide inhaled sedation (laughing gas) for a mild, calming effect, oral sedation for a deeper state of relaxation, or IV sedation for severe anxiety. Our doctors will discuss these options with you to ensure your visit is entirely stress-free.
Don’t let fear dictate your dental health. Call our caring team at 208-343-1981 to discuss how we can make your treatment comfortable.
Why Choose Times Square Dental for Your Restorative Needs? 
When evaluating options for restorative care, experience and technology matter. Our Boise practice has been a staple in the community for over two decades because we consistently deliver results that our patients can trust. We treat every patient like a neighbor, taking the time to explain diagnoses clearly and offering transparent treatment plans that fit your lifestyle and budget.
Whether you need a simple composite filling or are looking for more complex rehabilitative work, our doctors have the training and technology to handle your needs under one roof. By combining state-of-the-art tools with a compassionate, family-friendly approach, we ensure that every restoration we place contributes to a stronger, healthier smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the most reliable way to identify a cavity is through a professional dental exam and digital X-rays, there are common symptoms you can watch for at home. These include localized tooth pain, sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, pain when biting down, or visible discoloration and small holes on the surface of your teeth. Because early decay often presents no symptoms, routine check-ups are vital.
No, the procedure to place a filling should not be painful. At Times Square Dental, we use local anesthesia to completely numb the tooth and surrounding gums before any work begins. You may feel some mild pressure or vibration during the removal of the decay, but you will not feel sharp pain. Post-procedure, it is normal to experience some minor sensitivity to temperature for a few days, which typically resolves on its own.
The lifespan of a filling depends on several factors, including the material used, the size of the restoration, and your daily oral hygiene habits. With proper care, routine brushing and flossing, and regular professional cleanings, a composite resin filling can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years or more. Avoid chewing on hard objects like ice or using your teeth as tools to maximize the longevity of your dental work.
Yes, many patients choose to replace their older silver amalgam fillings with composite resin for aesthetic reasons or if the old metal filling has begun to break down. Over time, metal fillings can expand and contract with temperature changes, potentially causing micro-fractures in the surrounding tooth. Our Boise dentists can safely remove old metal restorations and replace them with natural-looking composite to strengthen and brighten your smile.
Schedule Your Appointment in Boise Today
Ignoring a cavity will only allow the decay to spread deeper into your tooth, eventually leading to severe pain, infection, and the need for more invasive treatments like root canals or extractions. Protect your oral health and preserve your natural smile with high-quality restorative care at Times Square Dental.
From our welcoming office at 1529 S. Times Square Ct., Boise, ID 83709, we have proudly provided our neighbors with exceptional dentistry since 1997. Let Dr. Hastings, Dr. Travelle, and our entire team provide you with the gentle, lasting solutions you deserve.
Contact our Boise dentist office today at 208-343-1981 or use our convenient online form to request your appointment and take the first step toward a healthier, pain-free smile!