Fillings are done when part of a tooth breaks down because of a cavity or trauma to the tooth. In order to do a filling, Dr. Sherer removes all of the bad tooth structure affected by the cavity and replaces the missing part of the tooth with a filling. Dr. Sherer will use either a tooth colored filling (composite) or a silver colored filling (alloy) to replace the missing tooth structure. The material used depends on the your desires, the location of the cavity, and the size of the cavity.

• Composites – The tooth colored filling material can be used for most fillings. Composites are bonded to the tooth to help retain the filling. When placing a composite filling, the tooth has to stay completely dry so Dr. Sherer often places a rubber dam in your mouth to keep saliva away from the tooth.
• Alloys – The silver material is used mainly when the patient chooses it or a composite filling would not bond to the tooth. Alloy fillings have both bonded and mechanical retention in the tooth. The stability of the alloy filling is not as dependent on keeping the tooth dry, which makes it a wise choice in certain situations. Dr. Sherer is willing to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both types of filling material to help you make the best choice for your situation.
• Sealants - Sealants can be used to fill deep grooves on the tops of teeth to prevent future cavities. Small amounts of tooth colored material (composite) is flowed over the top of the teeth to seal up all of the small grooves. This can be done without anesthetic.