Comparison of cavity treatment methods
| Silver filling | Tooth colored filling | Gold filling | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Also known as | Amalgam filling | Composite filling | Gold inlay/onlay |
| Appearance | silver | tooth colored, natural | gold |
| Material | an alloy of metals including mercury, silver, tin and copper | composite resin | gold & high noble metals |
| Best used for | back teeth. great for large fillings that need support | front and back teeth | back teeth. great for large fillings that need support. especially durable |
| Considerations | not ideal for front teeth for cosmetic reasons | not ideal for teeth that cannot be isolated during placement of the filling | requires 2 or more appointments |
| Cost | $ | $$ | $$$ |
- Krystle Lim DDS, Santa Rosa
