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After decay is removed from
a tooth, something must be placed in that space to give
strength back to the tooth. We use metal-free restorations to help keep your smile
as natural as possible.
Fillings: Fillings are the most common restorative
procedure.
Inlays and onlays: In addition to fillings,
lab fabricated inlays and onlays are sometimes used.
Although many patients think of these as fillings as
well, they are actually different since they are laboratory
fabricated.
 White
fillings: White (metal-free) fillings are an alternative to silver (amalgam)
fillings. White fillings are made of a strong composite resin that is matched
to the surrounding tooth color. In the past, white fillings were placed only
on front teeth, but recently a stronger more durable material has been developed
that can withstand the chewing pressure of back teeth.
White fillings are often
preferable because:
- Cosmetic reasons
- Many patients prefer
mercury-free fillings
- Patients with sensitivity to heat or cold find metal-free fillings to be more comfortable.
 White
Porcelain or Resin inlay or onlay: A
porcelain or resin inlay or onlay is used when the cavity is too big for a white resin filling, but isn't so big that a crown is required. An inlay is a filling within the cusp tips of the tooth. Onlays
(also known as overlays) will overlay one or more cusps in order to protect
and strengthen the tooth.
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