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Dental Health Tips


Adult Dental

Older Adults
Overbrushing
Seniors and Dental Health

Children's Dental Health

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Beverage Choices
Brush and Floss
Children's Dental Health
Emergency Tooth Injury Tips
Fluoride
Good Dental Habits
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Child

New School Year

Painful Teeth
School
Sports
Tap Water
Teen Years Tough on Teeth NEW
Tongue Piercing
Trick-or-Treaters

Disease and Medications

AntiDepressants
Disease Detectives
Hepatitis/Toothbrush Alert
Saliva: A Diagnostic Tool

Dental Specialities

Dental Specialties
Different Types of Fillings

Diet

Bulimia
Damaging Your Dental Health
Detecting Eating Disorders

Emergencies

Chipped or Knocked Out Teeth
Tooth Injury

Fear

Conquering the Fear Factor
 

The Different Types of Fillings

What kind of filling do I have?

There are two types of fillings that your dentist may recommend when you have cavities:

An amalgam filling is the most common type for back teeth. It is a silver-colored material that is strong and can withstand the pressures of constant biting and chewing.

A composite filling it tooth-colored and is recommended for front teeth because it blends in with the tooth itself, making it cosmetically acceptable.

If there is not enough natural tooth to support a filling, your dentist may recommend a crown. A crown covers the tooth and is usually made of tooth-colored material or gold. Because it covers the tooth, it is sometimes referred to as a "cap." Often, a crown is recommended when there is new decay or fracture of a tooth that already has a very large filling.