A chipped molar, a cavity that finally started aching, an old metal filling that cracked: this is the everyday dentistry that keeps small problems from becoming big ones. At New Street Dental in Bethlehem, Dr. Tunney repairs damaged and decayed teeth with natural-looking restorations, from tooth-colored fillings to porcelain crowns, and keeps most procedures in-house so you are not bounced between offices.
If something in your mouth hurts, feels rough, or just changed, call (610) 867-7112. Same-day appointments are available when you need to be seen quickly.
Tooth-Colored Fillings: The Everyday Fix
Fillings treat small and medium cavities, and they are the most common restoration we place. Dr. Tunney cleans all decay and bacteria out of the tooth, then fills and seals it with modern composite resin.
Why composite instead of metal?
- It comes in natural tooth shades, so the repair disappears into your smile
- It is 100% mercury-free
- It bonds to the tooth, so less healthy tooth structure needs to be removed
- It works beautifully for replacing old, dark metal fillings that show when you laugh
A filling appointment is quick, done under local anesthesia, and you can get on with your day afterward. Our fillings post-op page tells you exactly what to expect afterward.
Dental Crowns in Bethlehem: Strength That Looks Natural
A crown (some people say “cap”) covers the entire visible part of a tooth. It is the treatment of choice when a tooth is too damaged for a filling: severely decayed, cracked, badly worn, or fragile after a root canal. A crown can also rebuild a tooth that has always been small or oddly shaped.
Here is how it works. Dr. Tunney reshapes the tooth under local anesthesia, takes precise impressions, and places a temporary crown. A dental lab crafts your permanent crown from modern porcelain matched to your exact tooth color, and a few weeks later it is bonded permanently in place. Older crowns were metal or metal showing through porcelain; today’s all-porcelain crowns are a stunning match for natural enamel.
With good care, crowns commonly last 10 to 15 years or more. We give you simple aftercare instructions for both the temporary crown and the permanent crown.
Inlays and Onlays: The Middle Option
Sometimes a cavity is too big for a filling but the tooth does not need a full crown. That is exactly what inlays and onlays are for. Both fit onto the chewing surface of a molar: inlays nestle between the raised cusps, onlays cover one or more cusps. They repair the damage while preserving more of your natural tooth than a crown would, and like everything we place, they are made in tooth-colored materials that match your smile.
This is a good example of how Dr. Tunney practices: the most conservative treatment that truly solves the problem, never more.
Night Guards for Grinding and Clenching
Waking up with jaw pain, headaches, or sensitive teeth? You may be grinding your teeth in your sleep (the technical name is bruxism). Grinding slowly erodes enamel, causes hairline cracks, and can lead to exactly the kind of broken teeth this page exists to fix.
A custom night guard from impressions of your own teeth fits securely, is far more comfortable than a boiled drugstore guard, and protects your teeth while you sleep. If jaw pain and morning headaches sound familiar, mention it at your next exam; the fix is simpler than most people expect.
When a Tooth Cannot Be Saved
Restorative dentistry saves teeth, but honesty comes first. If a tooth is cracked below the gumline or too far gone, Dr. Tunney will say so plainly and walk you through gentle extraction and every replacement option, from bridges and dentures to dental implants. What you will never get here is a treatment plan padded with work you do not need. Patients tell us that honesty is why their whole family ends up coming here.
What Do Fillings and Crowns Cost in Bethlehem?
Restorative treatment is the category insurance likes best: fillings, crowns, inlays, and onlays are usually covered in part because they are medically necessary. Here is our promise on cost:
- A written, same-day insurance estimate before any treatment. You will know your out-of-pocket cost before you commit, not after.
- We accept most major plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Dental, Cigna, Concordia, Delta Dental, Guardian, and MetLife.
- No insurance? Third-party financing can spread costs into predictable monthly payments.
And the standing money-saving advice: treat small problems while they are small. A filling today is far cheaper than a root canal and crown next year.
Comfortable, Modern, and In-House
Dr. Gene Tunney (DDS, New York University) and our team use instant, very low radiation digital X-rays (the Nomad 2 Pro), intraoral cameras, and chairside TVs, so you can see the cavity or crack yourself before deciding anything. Anxious about dental work? Say so. Calm, unrushed, judgment-free visits are the thing our Google reviews mention most.
We serve Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, Hellertown, Catasauqua, Center Valley, Nazareth, and Allentown from our office at 920 N New Street in Bethlehem.