Traditional dental restorations (fillings) include gold, porcelain, amalgam and composite. Newer dental fillings include ceramic and plastic materials that closely mimic the appearance of natural teeth. These compounds are often referred as composite resins. They are the material of choice today for both front and back teeth depending on the location and extent of the tooth decay. Composites are usually more expensive than older silver fillings because the procedure is technique sensitive and, therefore, requires more time.

There are two basic types of dental fillings: direct and indirect.

Direct fillings are placed immediately into a prepared cavity in a single visit. They include amalgam and composite fillings. The dentist prepares the tooth, places the filling, polishes and adjusts it in one visit. Indirect fillings generally require two or more visits. They include inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns and bridges fabricated with gold, metal alloys, ceramics or composites. During the first visit, dentist prepares the tooth for restoration and makes the impression of the area that needs to be restored. The dentist then fabricates and places a temporary restoration over the prepared tooth. The impression is sent to dental laboratory which creates the dental restoration within a week or two. At the next appointment, the dentist fits and cements or bonds the restoration into the prepared tooth and adjusts it as needed. Dr. Palagi works with the best dental labs in the NY area to insure that her patients are getting the restorations of highest quality.