Filling is a method of restoring a tooth that has been damaged due to decay, bringing it back to its normal function and appearance. When your dentist performs a filling, they first remove the decayed part of the tooth. The affected area is cleaned, and the cavity is filled with a filling material.
By sealing the spaces where bacteria could enter, fillings help prevent the further progression of decay. The materials used for fillings include gold, porcelain, composite resin (tooth-colored filling), and amalgam (an alloy of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and sometimes zinc).
