Fillings

What are dental fillings?

To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill the area on the tooth where the decayed material was removed.

Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse (such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding).

What materials are dental fillings made from?

Dental filling materials include:

• Gold.

• Porcelain.

• Silver amalgam (contains mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper).

• Tooth-colored, plastic and glass materials called composite resin fillings.

The location and extent of the decay, cost of filling material, your insurance coverage and your dentist’s recommendation help determine the type of filling that will best address your needs.