Dental restoration

Dental restoration, dental fillings, or simply fillings are treatments used to restore the function, integrity, and morphology of tooth structure lost due to decay (caries), trauma, or wear. Fillings may also be used to replace or seal tooth structure around dental implants or after more extensive procedures such as root-canal therapy. There are two broad categories of fillings: direct restorations, placed and shaped directly inside a cleaned cavity in a single dental visit, and indirect restorations (such as inlays or onlays), which are fabricated outside the mouth (often in a laboratory) and then cemented into the tooth. Materials for direct fillings commonly include amalgam (metal) or tooth-colored composite and glass-ionomer, while indirect restorations may use ceramics, metal alloys, or porcelain for greater durability and structural support.