A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay to its normal function and appearance. When your dentist performs a filling, they first remove the decayed tooth tissue. They clean the affected area and fill the cavity with filling material.
By closing the gaps where bacteria can enter, fillings also attempt to prevent the progression of decay. Materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, composite resin (tooth-colored filling), and amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and sometimes zinc).
