Teeth fillings
By DR Mark Dohald | Principle Dental Officer
5 minute read |
Published 23 September 2024
A filling is a procedure that restores teeth damaged by decay or breakage. When a dental professional gives you a filling, they first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, then inject the cleaned-out cavity with a filling material.
By containing spaces where bacteria can enter the cavity, fillings also help prevent further decay. However, unless the root cause of the decay is addressed and managed through diet and oral hygiene practices, new decay can start around the filling or in other areas of the mouth. Materials used for fillings include composite resin (tooth-coloured fillings), gold, porcelain, and amalgam which is an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin and occasionally zinc.
Type of fillings
Composite (plastic) resins are matched to be the same colour as your teeth and therefore used where a natural appearance is desired. These are currently the most common filling material.
Amalgam (silver) fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive. However, due to their dark colour, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.
Porcelain fillings are called inlays or onlays and are produced to order in a lab or can be fabricated in the dental surgery if the necessary equipment is available, and then bonded to the tooth.
Gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place.
How do I know if I need a filling
Only your dental professional can detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled. During a check-up, your dental professional will use a small mirror and a strong light to examine the surfaces of each tooth. They may also take x -rays to check areas that are difficult to see, such as between teeth and under existing fillings.
