Fillings, Crowns and Bridges
When decay is present it must be removed from the tooth or it will continue to grow and eventually destroy it. Once decay is removed the tooth will need to be restored to its original shape. Fillings can be placed in most teeth and there are two basic types:
White or Tooth Colored
These fillings are resin based materials which will match the color of your tooth and are beautiful as well as very strong. They are bonded into place. Nobody but you and the dentist will be able to tell that you have fillings in these teeth.
Silver
Silver fillings have been around for well over 100 years and have a great track record as strong and long lasting. It still is a great material.
Crowns vs. Fillings
Sometimes crowns are a better choice to restore the tooth if there is a large amount of tooth missing from a very large cavity or if a tooth is broken or cracked. Crowns will surround the tooth on all sides and can strengthen one that has a large filling in it. Crowns are made from gold or porcelain and make for a beautiful, long lasting restoration when a tooth is badly damaged.
