Dental Fillings

What are dental fillings?

Dental fillings are typically used to fill small holes in a tooth where decay has been removed. A filing can be made from a variety of materials. Most common has been amalgam which is a mixture of metals or a composite of glass and acrylic resin. 

Traditional fillings can have a downside. As noted in a literature review published in the Journal of Dental Health, Oral Disorders & Therapy, metal fillings can weaken tooth strength by up to 50%. In comparison, inlays and onlays made of porcelain and composite materials can increase tooth strength up to 75% and last between ten and thirty years!

 Fillings do not require moulds, and several can be done in one appointment. They are less expensive and appropriate for small cavities. In contrast, inlays and outlays are for larger damaged areas. Think of inlays and onlays as a middle ground between fillings and crowns.

Filling cavities is a simple procedure completed at our practice in a short appointment. Fillings are used to repair teeth that have been damaged due to decay or other wear. As an alternative, fillings can also be treated with a tooth-colored composite material to restore a natural look and feel of the tooth.