Fillings

Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, are most often made of silver amalgam. The strength and durability of this traditional dental material makes it useful for situations where restored teeth must 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, called composite resins, are usually used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important, but they are also used 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 remaining tooth structure
• 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

Before your treatment begins, Dr. Walker will discuss with you 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. Walker 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 necessitate a crown. During the first visit, Dr. Walker 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 the next appointment, Dr. Walker cements the restoration into the prepared cavity and adjusts it as needed.