Fillings

Fillings are used to repair cracked, broken or decayed teeth .

To treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then "fill" the area with the ideal material of choice.

Teeth can be filled with silver amalgam (currently not used); or tooth-colored materials such as glass ionomer cements or ceramic fillings.

Each filling material can be used in certain circumstances. Your dentist will advise you regarding the best filling material of choice based on the location and size of the cavity to be filled.

Benefits of Fillings

Stops the cavity from growing

Improves the structure of the tooth

Restores form and function of the tooth

Tooth fillings can improve the color of your teeth

Inlays

Large cavities are difficult to optimally restore using commonly used filling materials. These materials , although excellent for small cavities, may not be best suited for large cavities. They would have a tendancy to fracture over time.In such situations inlays are the treatment of choice. The inlays can either be metal or ceramic , based on patient preference.