Dental fillings are done to fill holes or cavities within a tooth. Fillings may be composite (white fillings), porcelain (inlays/onlays) or amalgam (metal fillings). These days we try not to use amalgam fillings and make the change to composite fillings. Fillings can fall out at any time and may also change colour. The life of a filling usually depends on how big the filling is, which part of the tooth it is placed, the type of diet you eat, etc. Sometimes, cavities are not too deep, and in this case we may not need any local anaesthetic before placing a filling. It is always good to have regular dental check-ups to make sure all your fillings are intact, otherwise cavities may form a site of decay and be a potential problem down the line.
