Introduction: What is Dental Filling?
A dental filling is a treatment to restore and improve the function, appearance, and longevity of a tooth. A hole or cavity in a tooth can be caused by decay, trauma, or wear. Once the hole is cleaned out, the dentist will choose the best material to fill it based on the location and size of the cavity. The most common filling materials are gold, silver amalgam, tooth-colored composite resin, and ceramic. A temporary filling is placed after the completion of the model. The dentist will then use the model to make a permanent filling , which is placed at the second appointment. A tooth can be restored by placing either a direct or indirect filling. The main difference between the two types of fillings is time. Direct fillings are placed in one appointment, whereas indirect fillings require a second appointment to place the final filling. Direct fillings are sometimes referred to as intracoronal restorations. They can be placed in one visit if there is sufficient time and mate...