Fillings are an effective way to restore a small cavity.
Decay on a small portion of the tooth can be fixed with a filling. A composite filling is a tooth-colored material. After tooth decay is removed and cleaned, this tooth-colored material is placed into the tooth. This material is hardened or cured with a curing light, and the final surface is shaped and polished to match the tooth. The final restoration is virtually invisible.
Advantages/Disadvantages of composite (white) fillings:
Advantages: Composite fillings are more than just attractive. They require minimal tooth preparation, in other words less healthy tooth structure is removed to restore the tooth. Also, a sealant can be placed over the remaining exposed grooves of the tooth to minimize the risk of decay on another area of the tooth.
Disadvantages: These restorations are technique sensitive and time consuming. They require a good bit of cooperation from the patient. Also, on baby teeth, with cavities between the teeth, they are more likely to have recurrent decay, resulting in the need for replacement.
