Procedures
Dental filling
A dental filling is a material placed in a tooth to repair a cavity or damage. It replaces the lost part and restores the tooth's shape.
Dental fillings help repair tooth cavities. During a filling, a dentist removes the damaged part of the tooth and replaces it with a sturdy material. This restores the shape of the tooth so you can chew.
There are several types of fillings, including amalgam and tooth-colored options such as composite resin and porcelain. Your dentist can talk with you about which material suits your tooth. Depending on the material used, some fillings can last up to 20 years.
If a cavity is too big for a filling but too small for a crown, an inlay or onlay may be used. A very large cavity may need a dental crown. See cavity. Our office describes fillings on its dental fillings page.