A filling is a material used to treat a small hole or cavity in a tooth caused by decay. The decayed tooth tissue is removed by a dentist, and the space is filled with a filling material
. 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 them
. Dental fillings and crowns do not last a lifetime and may need to be replaced
