Fillings

Fillings

A dental filling is required when damage to a tooth is caused by decay or trauma thus necessitating the restoration of any damage caused with a filling where possible.

Amalgam “Silver“ Filling

Contain various metals i.e. Silver, Copper, Tin and Mercury. They became the dental restorative material of choice in the 1800’s due to its ease of application, strength and durability. Amalgam fillings are still very useful in modern dentistry but modern techniques and materials have superceeded these fillings in recent years.

Composite “White“ Fillings

Are synthetic resins that come in a variety of shades so a dentist can match to a patients tooth colour. White fillings are aesthetically superior to amalgam fillings and are most suited to front tooth restorations and smaller posterior “ back tooth “ fillings.

Temporary Fillings

Temporary fillings are used to cover a damaged portion of tooth for a variety of reasons ie.

• To ease pain
• To protect the remaining tooth structure
• To hold a denture or crown in place
• To act as a medicated dressing to sooth and disinfect an exposed nerve

In most cases a temporary filling is there to allow time for the tooth to recover from an insult or to allow time for more complicated treatment to take place.