Dental fillings represent a category of restorative dental treatments employed by dentists to address cavities and repair minor chips or cracks in teeth. They are also referred to as tooth fillings, cavity fillings, or dental restorations, the latter encompassing a variety of procedures aimed at restoring dental integrity, including fillings, inlays, onlays, bridges, and crowns. These fillings serve to mend areas affected by decay or damage, with various materials available such as amalgam, composite resin, and porcelain. Depending on the type of material selected, some fillings can endure for as long as 20 years. Common materials for direct fillings include amalgam, which is silver-colored and contains mercury along with other metals; resin composite, which is tooth-colored and made from a resin base combined with powdered minerals; gold, which is a mixture of gold and other metals; and porcelain, which is also tooth-colored and composed of various minerals.
