Rebuild · Porcelain Fillings

A repair that disappears into the tooth.

Most small cavities and chips don't need a crown. A porcelain filling rebuilds just the damaged area in ceramic matched to your enamel and leaves the rest of the tooth alone.

Two ceramic restorations pictured on a white stone model, illustrating an inlay on the left, sitting inside the cusps, and an onlay on the right, covering the cusps.

Left, an inlay, which sits inside the cusps. Right, an onlay, which covers one or more cusps.

Why we use porcelain

At Sora Dentistry in Fairfield, we rebuild only what the tooth has lost and keep everything that's still healthy.

Bonded to the tooth

After decay or a small chip, we clear away only the damaged part and bond porcelain in its place. Bonding lets the filling and the tooth work as one piece again, and it lets us keep more healthy structure than a metal filling would.

Matched to your enamel

Porcelain is close to enamel in color and strength. Dr. Oh matches the shade to the teeth beside it and designs the shape on screen from a digital scan, the same way we plan every restoration. Once polished, the filling should be hard to pick out.

One visit, typically
Most porcelain fillings are scanned, designed, and bonded in a single appointment.
Worn silver fillings replaced
A cracked or leaking silver (amalgam) filling can usually be swapped for bonded porcelain.

Common questions

What's the difference between porcelain and metal fillings?
A metal filling is packed into the tooth and held in by its shape. Porcelain is bonded to the tooth and matched to its color, so it blends in, and we can usually keep more of the healthy tooth.
Does getting a filling hurt?
The area is fully numbed first, and most patients are comfortable throughout. Some mild sensitivity afterward is common and usually settles within days.
How long do porcelain fillings last?
It depends on your bite and your habits. With good home care and regular checkups, a well-bonded porcelain filling typically serves for many years.
When is a crown needed instead?
When too little healthy tooth remains to hold a filling, a crown protects what's left. We show you the scan and explain why before anything is decided.
Can you replace my old silver fillings?
Usually, yes, especially once one is cracked, leaking, or worn. If an old filling is still doing its job, we'll tell you that and keep an eye on it.

Your visit, step by step

Your filling visit

STEP 01

Scan and look together

We scan the tooth, show you what we see on screen, and agree on the plan, including whether a filling is really the right repair.

STEP 02

Remove only the damage

With the area numbed, we clear the decay or fracture and nothing more.

STEP 03

Design and match

Dr. Oh designs the ceramic on screen and matches the shade to the teeth beside it.

STEP 04

Bond, polish, check

The porcelain is bonded, polished, and checked against your bite. We keep an eye on it at every checkup from then on.

Wondering about cost? See Insurance Questions and Financing.

Call us about your tooth.

Call (973) 808-4373. Tell us what you've noticed, and we'll find a time that works.

Call (973) 808-4373