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A repair of a damaged or decayed tooth is called a restoration. The tooth is restored back to its normal shape, appearance and function. A tooth is repaired to protect the part of the tooth that has become exposed by the decay or injury. It can prevent the loss of a tooth, since decay may spread and destroy the tooth.

The name of the material that is used to repair a tooth is often the name given to the process. ''Amalgam Restoration” is an example of the material giving its name to the process.

There are different types of dental restorations.

The most common are:

1- Amalgam restoration

An amalgam is an alloy or combination of two or more metals.

Amalgam fillings (silver fillings) are made up of mercury, powdered silver and tin. They are mixed and packed into cavities in teeth. It hardens slowly, and replaces the missing tooth substance.

Amalgam fillings are held in place by the shape of the prepared cavity.

The cavity has to have an undercut to prevent the filling from falling out. The amalgam is then slotted into the cavity.

It is still commonly used, despite an ongoing debate about mercury toxicity.

2- Bonding Or Composite Restoration

Composite resin is a plastic tooth-colored material that is used as a filling. It is also called a white filling. The process of fusing the filling material to the tooth is called bonding. An ultraviolet light is used to harden it, and it can be chewed on immediately after it has been completed. This is the advantage it has over amalgam.

The filling bonds or sticks to the tooth.

There is no longer the need to cut a lot into a tooth to hold a filling in place, as is necessary for an amalgam filling.