Fillings are used to repair teeth that have been damaged. Fillings can be made from different materials, such as porcelain or silver amalgam, which are very common in dentistry. In fact, the American Dental Association estimates that 92% of adults between 20 and 64 years old have had cavities filled with fillings. There are several reasons why a person might need a filling, including:

Cavities

A cavity is a hole in your tooth. Cavities can occur naturally through wear or tear over time, but they’re also caused by eating foods that are high in sugars, calories, and acids.

The symptoms of a cavity include:

  • Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
  • Tooth pain when biting down on something hard (like an apple)
  • Cracked tooth edges from biting on them too hard

Broken teeth

If your tooth feels loose, cracked or broken, it’s essential to visit a dentist as soon as possible. Here are some signs that you may be dealing with a broken tooth:

  • The gums around the tooth are swollen and red
  • Your jaw hurts when chewing food or moving it from side to side
  • You can hear what sounds like cracking or grinding noises coming from inside your mouth when chewing on hard foods (like peanut butter!)

If you notice these symptoms, contact your dentist immediately for an examination and further treatment options. If the dentist diagnoses that one of your teeth is indeed fractured, they will recommend that you receive X-rays so they can determine the extent of damage done to your other teeth and surrounding bone structure by looking at how much pressure is being put on them by this broken piece of enamel—this could help them decide whether or not other areas need attention before they begin fixing things properly.

Fillings might be needed for a number of reasons.

Fillings are used for a number of reasons. They can be used to restore teeth that have been damaged by decay, or they may also be used to repair cracked or chipped teeth. Fillings can also be used to strengthen teeth that have been weakened by cavities, and fillings can even be used to protect existing fillings from additional damage caused by biting on hard food items like nuts and candy. Finally, fillings are sometimes necessary when the appearance of your smile is negatively affected by the presence of discoloured or misshapen teeth.

In short, fillings are needed when you have a cavity or some other kind of damage to your teeth. But if you haven’t had one yet, here’s a quick reminder: Fillings are essential for maintaining your oral health and preventing more severe problems from coming up later on. So as long as you have good insurance coverage for dental work like this, don’t be afraid to visit the dentist!