Fillings

We use traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, in amalgam and composite. The strength and durability of traditional dental materials continue to make them useful for situations where restored teeth must withstand extreme forces that result from chewing, such as in the back of the mouth.

What’s right for your child?

Several factors influence the performance, durability, longevity and expense of dental restorations, including:

• The components used in the filling material
• The amount of tooth structure remaining
• Where and how the filling is placed
• The chewing load that the tooth will have to bear
• The length and number of visits needed to prepare and adjust the restored tooth

Before your child’s treatment begins, your doctor will discuss all options and help you choose the best filling for your child’s particular case. It may be helpful to understand the basic type of dental fillings: direct.

• Direct fillings are fillings placed immediately into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include glass ionomers, resin ionomers, amalgam, and composite (resin) fillings. The dentist prepares the tooth, places the filling, and adjusts it in just one appointment.