Tooth Colored Fillings

Types of dental fillings

There are many different types of dental fillings. But they all fall into one of two categories: direct or indirect.

Direct fillings

Dentists create and place direct fillings in your mouth without the need for a dental laboratory or temporary restoration. A direct filling only requires one office visit.

• Amalgam (silver in color; contains mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc and copper).
• Resin composite (tooth-colored; consists of a resin base with powdered quartz, silica or glass).
• Glass ionomer (tooth-colored; made of silica glass powder).

Indirect fillings

A dental technician must make indirect fillings in a lab before your dentist places them in your mouth. Most indirect fillings require two office visits — one to take dental impressions and another to place your restoration. If your dentist uses CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) technology, they may be able to create and place your indirect filling in a single appointment.

Inlays and onlays are two common types of indirect fillings. Dentists use them when a tooth has too much damage to support a filling but not enough damage to warrant a dental crown. An inlay or onlay fits into your existing tooth structure like a tiny puzzle piece.

Common materials for indirect fillings include:

• Gold (gold in color; contains gold mixed with other metals like silver, tin, copper or palladium).
• Porcelain (tooth-colored; contains a mixture of minerals like feldspar, quartz and kaolin).

What are the benefits of dental fillings?

Dental fillings treat existing tooth decay and reduce the risk of future damage. Depending on the type of filling, they can also:

• Strengthen weakened teeth.
• Preserve your natural tooth structure.
• Restore chewing function.
• Enhance the appearance of your teeth.
• Last for a long time (10 to 20 years).