If you need a filling on a back (posterior) tooth, you may have a choice in the materials used to restore that tooth to better health. A tooth-colored material called composite resin is now being used to repair broken down or decayed teeth. Composite comes in a variety of colors and can be matched to your tooth's color. To restore your tooth with this material, your dentist will first apply a bonding adhesive to the area to be restored.  Then, your dentist will place the tooth-colored resin and sculpt it to match the color and shape of the surrounding teeth. Your dentist uses a bonding light to fix the resin in place. Finally, the composite is polished.

These invisible fillings are often preferred because your dentist can save more of the natural tooth structure with this technique versus techniques that require other materials. Although composites are preferable for the obvious cosmetic reasons, other filling materials may be used depending on the extent and location of the decayed tooth. Your dentist can determine if another material, such as amalgam or gold, would serve you better.