Fillings

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, a composite resin (tooth-colored fillings), and an amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and sometimes zinc).

Which Type Of Filling Is Best?

No one type of filling is best for everyone. What’s right for you will be determined by the extent of the repair, whether you have allergies to certain materials, where in your mouth the filling is needed, and the cost.

Types Of Fillings:

• Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place.
• Amalgam (silver) fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive.
• Composite (plastic) resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired.
• Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth.