what is a filling

A filling is a dental treatment used to repair a small hole or cavity in a tooth caused by decay. During the procedure, a dentist removes the decayed tooth tissue and fills the space with a filling material, which restores the tooths normal function and shape while preventing further decay. Fillings are more often required in the molar (back) teeth where decay rates are higher. There are several types of filling materials used to repair cavities, including tooth-colored (composite) fillings and silver-colored (amalgam) fillings. Composite resin materials are increasingly used by dentists to fill teeth because many people prefer tooth-colored fillings and because composites continue to improve. The need for fillings due to tooth decay can be eliminated by correctly cleaning your teeth and maintaining a healthy diet. Only a dentist can detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled, and during a checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of each tooth. Anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked with special instruments. Your dentist may also X-ray your entire mouth or a section of it.