Common Filling Materials for Cavities

Cavities are essentially small areas of tooth decay in the enamel of your teeth. When your dentist fills a cavity, they remove the decayed enamel and replace it with another material that will resist future decay.

What your cavity is made from will vary depending on how large the cavity is as well as the tooth’s function in your mouth and smile. You dentist will often recommend the best material for the situation.

Gold alloys, or base metal fillings are strong and durable. This makes them a good choice for fillings in your molars. Gold fillings are custom shaped in a lab and then cemented into your cavity at a brief follow up appointment.

Porcelain-ceramic fillings can be matched to the color of the teeth in your smile. Just like gold, porcelain fillings are made in a laboratory and then fitted during a follow up appointment.

Composite fillings are made from a plastic resin material. They are color matched to the surrounding enamel and can be cemented in place during a single procedure.

Amalgam fillings aren’t as costly as gold fillings, yet they can still be durable. Their natural dark color means they are not recommended for teeth in your smile.

It’s important to have a cavity filled as soon as possible to limit the spread of tooth decay. Left unchecked it could develop into something much more serious. If you have a cavity in one of your teeth please call us at 513-932-6991 to schedule an appointment.