Dental fillings are used to repair teeth that are damaged by cavities (tooth decay) or fracture. The tooth-coloured varieties are the most popular of the several options available.

Tooth-Coloured Composite Resin Fillings

Composite resin is a dental plastic used to fill most cavities or fractures. Your dentist will clean and shape the cavity or fracture site, usually under a local anaesthetic. The result is a moderately strong filling with generally pleasing cosmetic results.

Composite resin is not as strong as the enamel of teeth, so it can wear down, chip or crack under some circumstances. It is also more porous than enamel, and the margins can pick up stains from foods and beverages or from activities like cigarette smoking. Fortunately, it is usually quite straightforward to repair or replace a damaged or stained composite resin filling.

Composite resin is generally not ideal for very large fillings in the back teeth. This is because it lacks the strength to withstand the wear and tear that large fillings are exposed to.

Tooth-Coloured Dental Ceramic (Porcelain) Fillings

If a cavity or fracture is moderately large and a tooth-coloured option is preferred, the ideal material is generally dental ceramic. This type of filling is called an “Onlay” (or sometimes an “Inlay”).

The Procedure for Placing a Porcelain Filling

Placing a porcelain onlay requires two appointments because the onlay itself must be built by a dental ceramist in their laboratory.

  • During the first appointment, the cavity or fracture site is cleaned and shaped.
  • An impression of the tooth will then be made. This allows the ceramist to create an exact replica of the prepared tooth. It is on this model that the ceramist will build the porcelain onlay.
  • At the end of the first appointment, a temporary onlay is made to fill the cavity.
  • At the second appointment, the temporary onlay will be removed, and the porcelain onlay will be bonded into place.

The Benefits of Porcelain Fillings

Porcelain has a very similar appearance to enamel, so porcelain onlays are often virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Porcelain is much stronger than composite resin but still not as strong as tooth enamel. It is possible for porcelain onlays to chip, break or wear down over time. In some cases, a repair is possible, but a severe fracture may necessitate replacement of the onlay.

Care of Your Fillings

Whilst fillings themselves cannot decay, the teeth underneath them can, so it is critical to keep your filled teeth very clean by brushing and flossing regularly.