Dental Fillings

What is a Filling?

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay. It returns the tooth back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist does a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a long lasting restorative 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 silver, copper, tin, mercury 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 consultation reviewing the extent of the repair, where in your mouth the filling is needed, and the cost. Considerations for different materials include:

• Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place. Gold inlays are well tolerated by gum tissues, and may last more than 20 years. For these reasons, many authorities consider gold the best filling material. However, it is often the most expensive choice and requires multiple visits.
• Amalgam (silver) fillings are resistant to wear and less expensive. However, because they are metal, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.
• Composite resins are glass and matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and bonded directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to 10 years.
• Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth. Their cost is similar to gold.
• If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown (a cap) may be recommended. Decay that has reached the nerve may be treated through root canal therapy (in which the damaged nerve is removed) or by removal of the tooth.

What Happens When You get a Filling?

If your dentist decides to fill a cavity, he or she will first remove the decay and clean the affected area. The tooth will be restored with any of the variety of materials described above.

How Do I Know if I Need a Filling?

Only your dentist can detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled. During a checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of each tooth. However, you may have experienced sensitivity or pain on eating sweets or hot or cold foods that will give you a suspicion that something is wrong.

Anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked. Your dentist may also X-ray your entire mouth or a section of it. The type of treatment your dentist chooses will depend on the extent of damage caused by decay.