Fillings/Restorations

Many people still have silver fillings (dental amalgam) in their mouths from years past. These fillings are not particularly pleasing to the eye, and do not provide any strength to the tooth. The material simply "fills" a void; however, it should be noted that dental amalgam has been used successfully for over 100 years. Many adult patients have silver fillings that were placed when they were children that are still functional. In our office, dental amalgam is used in less than 1 percent of the fillings we place. It is only used in situations where we are unable to isolate a tooth and it is impossible to control moisture. A more cosmetic alternative to silver fillings are tooth colored restorations. Smaller areas may be treated at a single appointment with direct placement of a tooth colored resin called composite. These fillings are more technique sensitive to place, and at present, will not last as long as a silver amalgam filling. Advances in materials and placement techniques have dramatically improved the longevity of these restorations. For larger areas where the remaining tooth needs more support, pieces of porcelain called inlays or onlays can be placed. This procedure requires two visits. The first appointment involves removal of old filling material and decay, and precise design and preparation of the portion of the tooth that will be restored. An impression is taken and a temporary restoration is placed. Our ceramist fabricates these fine pieces of porcelain in our "in-office" laboratory. The restoration is bonded in place at the second appointment. These restorations are esthetically pleasing and very strong thanks to new bonding technologies.