Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, were often made of silver amalgam. The strength and durability of this traditional dental material made it useful for situations where restored teeth had to withstand extreme forces that result from chewing, often in the back of the mouth.

Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic compounds that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds, often called composite resins, are not only used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is desirable, but also on the back teeth, depending on the location and extent of the tooth decay.

What’s right for me?

Several factors influence the performance, durability, longevity and expense of dental restorations, including:

The components used in the filling material
The amount of tooth structure remaining
Where and how the filling is placed
The chewing load the tooth will have to bear
The length and number of visits needed to prepare and adjust the restored tooth

Dr. Egidio will discuss all your options and help you choose the best filling for your particular case. In preparation for this discussion, it may be helpful to understand the two basic types of dental fillings: direct and indirect.

Direct fillings are placed into a prepared cavity during a single visit. They include silver amalgam, glass ionomers, resin ionomers, and composite (resin) fillings. Dr. Egidio prepares the tooth, places the filling, and adjusts it in one appointment.
Indirect fillings generally require two or more visits. They include inlays, onlays, and veneers fabricated with gold, base metal alloys, ceramics, or composites. They are used when a tooth has too much damage to support a filling but not enough to require a crown. During the first visit, Dr. Egidio prepares the tooth and makes an impression of the area to be restored. Then he places a temporary covering over the prepared tooth. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory, which creates the dental restoration. At your next appointment, Dr. Egidio cements the restoration into the prepared cavity and adjusts it as needed.