Composite restorations or fillings, often called “bonding,” is one way to restore teeth to health and function.

When a tooth gets decayed, it used to be that the dentist would drill the tooth and fill it with an amalgam (or “silver” or sometimes even old ones appear as “black fillings”). This type of filling has been proven to be detrimental to the health, form, and function of the teeth.

Today, we use tooth-colored fillings, or “bonding.” When composite fillings are done, they become part of the tooth, being bonded to it, not “thumb-printed” into the tooth, as if you were filling a pothole.

In some situations, if the area to be restored is simply too large, or positioned in a precarious location (i.e. the biting edge of the tooth), it may be recommended that an alternate solution be employed, as a composite may not give the longest-lasting solution.