When a tooth is decayed, the diseased dental tissue is
removed and a filling is placed to restore the normal anatomy. There are
various materials used to restore cavities, the most common being tooth coloured materials such as composite. There is still a role for silver fillings (amalgam) in dentistry but its use is becoming rare.
Tooth coloured fillings are more technique sensitive to complete well than the older silver filling. It is still performed under local anaesthesia but as strict moisture control is required to achieve a perfect bond between the filling and the tooth, your dentist may require more time to complete the restoration. A white filling takes between 30 to 60 minutes to complete and can make your tooth look totally natural again.