When decay or an old restoration has to be replaced, there are three main families of material for repairing the tooth. They are not equal in terms of longevity, sealing and biocompatibility.
1. The ceramic inlay / onlay
An inlay (or onlay) is a piece of custom-made ceramic bonded into the tooth. It replaces old amalgam fillings and leaky resins with a material whose properties are very close to those of enamel.
Reliable, strong and long-lasting: ceramic is today’s gold standard.
2. Amalgam (silver filling)
Amalgam contains mercury (50%), silver, zinc and tin. Corrosion and oxidation are inevitable: the filling then has to be made larger, or the tooth root-treated and crowned. It is no longer used in some countries because of the mercury. Not advised in cases of kidney disease or pregnancy.
3. Composite resin
Composite is far less hard-wearing than enamel. As it sets on the day it is placed it shrinks, which makes the seal around the edges unreliable.
- Short lifespan: 3 to 5 years.
- After that, a larger composite is needed, or root treatment and a crown.
- Its toxicity is poorly understood and its biocompatibility incomplete.
