Many patients are familiar with the silver-mercury amalgam filling, which has been the stardard restoration material for years.  It does not bond well to teeth, so eventually bacteria will set in and decay can grow under the filling.  Patients do not like the appearance of this dark filling that contrasts with the natural shade of their teeth.  

Today we use ony composite resin fillings that bond tightly to teeth and can be matched to the shade of your real tooth to give you a long-lasting, natural-looking restoration. 

Crowns

Crowns are a restoration used to strengthen a tooth or improve its shape. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn or partially destroyed by tooth decay.

Crowns are "cemented" onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth's new outer surface. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both. Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.

Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings, which apply the restorative material directly into your mouth, a crown is fabricated away from your mouth. Your crown is created in a lab from your unique tooth impression which allows a dental laboratory technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements. Your crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw movements function normally once the crown is placed.