A filling replaces a portion of a tooth due to decay or breakage. Fillings may take one or two appointments. A filling that is made in your mouth takes one appointment and one that is made out of your mouth typically takes two appointments.
Fillings Gallery Case
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/337/fillings-gallery-before-252337.jpg)
These are two old silver fillings that have served the patient well for many years. They are starting to show their age and need to be replaced.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/339/s-252339.jpg)
The left tooth was restored with a porcelain onlay, which covers the entire chewing surface of the tooth. The right tooth was restored with a porcelain inlay, which covers only the necessary part of the chewing surface.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/341/fillings-01-before-252341.jpg)
This is a back molar with two separate silver fillings that are very old. They need to be replaced.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/343/fillings-01-after-252343.jpg)
The tooth was restored with a porcelain inlay, which leaves the cusps of the natural teeth exposed.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/345/fillings-02-before-252345.jpg)
This is another silver filling that is showing its age and needs to be replaced.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/347/fillings-02-after-252347.jpg)
The tooth was restored with a porcelain onlay since the cusps, which are the tips of the teeth, were too weak to be restored without being covered.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/349/fillings-03-before-252349.jpg)
This is a silver filling that had decay near the gumline and needed to be replaced.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x216_85/351/fillings-03-after-252351.jpg)
The filling was removed and replaced with a porcelain inlay. The majority of the tooth was healthy and did not need to be restored.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x305_85/353/fillings-04-before-252353.jpg)
This is a lower molar with a fractured silver filling on the chewing surface and a separate silver filling on the outside portion of the tooth.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x305_85/355/fillings-04-after-252355.jpg)
The extent of the decay indicated replacement of the entire chewing surface, so a porcelain onlay was used.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x132_85/357/fillings-05-before-252357.jpg)
These two teeth had old silver fillings that needed to be replaced.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x132_85/359/fillings-05-after-252359.jpg)
The smaller tooth was restored with a porcelain inlay and the larger tooth was restored with a porcelain onlay.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x150_85/361/fillings-06-before-252361.jpg)
This tooth has a large silver filling that is several years old and needs to be replaced.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x150_85/363/fillings-06-after-252363.jpg)
A porcelain inlay was used, which restored the natural beauty of the tooth.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x186_85/365/07-before-252365.jpg)
The silver filling on the left had decay underneath it that was detected with an x-ray during a routine check-up.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x187_85/367/07-after-252367.jpg)
The silver filling was removed and it was replaced with a tooth colored composite filling that took a single appointment.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x219_85/369/fillings-08-before-252369.jpg)
The tooth in the middle of the image had a silver filling that needed to be replaced due to new decay at the gumline.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x219_85/371/fillings-08-after-252371.jpg)
The tooth was restored in one appointment with a composite filling.
![Fillings Before](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x174_85/373/fillings-09-before-252373.jpg)
Both of these teeth had been brushed too hard with a hard-bristled toothbrush, which caused the gum to recede and the root surface to be scrubbed away.
![Fillings After](http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.officitecuratedcontent.smb/288x174_85/375/fillings-09-after-252375.jpg)
Both teeth were restored with composite bonding, which replaced the missing root structure and provided protection to the remaining root surface.