A dental filling is a direct restoration used to repair a decayed or damaged tooth, and is often the first line of defense in a tooth that has been compromised. During this procedure, your dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area and begin by removing any decayed/structurally unsound portions of natural tooth. Once the tooth has been prepared the filling material can be placed.

Dental bonding is essentially the same process as a dental filling –material is used to fill in, build up or otherwise repair a natural tooth. While the term “filling” usually applies to repairing an area of decay, bonding is more commonly a cosmetic term. It describes any procedure where material is used to change the shape, color or other aesthetic aspects of the tooth. The material used is almost always composite resin, and many times no anesthesia is required. This is often the most economical choice when searching for a cosmetic improvement to one’s teeth.