A filling replaces a portion of a tooth due to decay or breakage. Fillings may take one or two appointments. A filling that is made in your mouth takes one appointment and one that is made out of your mouth typically takes two appointments.
Fillings Gallery Case 1
These are two old silver fillings that have served the patient well for many years. They are starting to show their age and need to be replaced.
Fillings Gallery Case 1
The left tooth was restored with a porcelain onlay, which covers the entire chewing surface of the tooth. The right tooth was restored with a porcelain inlay, which covers only the necessary part of the chewing surface.
Fillings Gallery Case 2
This is a back molar with two separate silver fillings that are very old. They need to be replaced.
Fillings Gallery Case 2
The tooth was restored with a porcelain inlay, which leaves the cusps of the natural teeth exposed.
Fillings Gallery Case 3
This is another silver filling that is showing its age and needs to be replaced.
Fillings Gallery Case 2
The tooth was restored with a porcelain onlay since the cusps, which are the tips of the teeth, were too weak to be restored without being covered.
Fillings Gallery Case 4
This is a silver filling that had decay near the gumline and needed to be replaced.
Fillings Gallery Case 4
The filling was removed and replaced with a porcelain inlay. The majority of the tooth was healthy and did not need to be restored.
Fillings Gallery Case 5
This is a lower molar with a fractured silver filling on the chewing surface and a separate silver filling on the outside portion of the tooth.
Fillings Gallery Case 5
The extent of the decay indicated replacement of the entire chewing surface, so a porcelain onlay was used.
Fillings Gallery Case 6
These two teeth had old silver fillings that needed to be replaced.
Fillings Gallery Case 6
The smaller tooth was restored with a porcelain inlay and the larger tooth was restored with a porcelain onlay.
Fillings Gallery Case 7
This tooth has a large silver filling that is several years old and needs to be replaced.
Fillings Gallery Case 7
A porcelain inlay was used, which restored the natural beauty of the tooth.
Fillings Gallery Case 8
The silver filling on the left had decay underneath it that was detected with an x-ray during a routine check-up.
Fillings Gallery Case 8
The silver filling was removed and it was replaced with a tooth colored composite filling that took a single appointment.
Fillings Gallery Case 9
The tooth in the middle of the image had a silver filling that needed to be replaced due to new decay at the gumline.
Fillings Gallery Case 9
The tooth was restored in one appointment with a composite filling.
Fillings Gallery Case 10
Both of these teeth had been brushed too hard with a hard-bristled toothbrush, which caused the gum to recede and the root surface to be scrubbed away.
Fillings Gallery Case 10
Both teeth were restored with composite bonding, which replaced the missing root structure and provided protection to the remaining root surface.