Is porcelain really used to fill cavities?

I'm not 100% sure but I remember reading or watching somewhere that porcelain was a better (safer alternative to mercury based fillings) way to fill in cavities. If anyone has experience with this sort of thing or works in this profession please be as detailed and as thorough as possible with a description of this procedure and the pros and cons of having it done. Thanks!

Is porcelain really used to fill cavities?
I think what you are describing is the white composite filling material. It is a resin based material. That is what is usually used for a tooth colored filling.


You can have porcelain used, but it would be either a porcelain crown or inlay or onlay. These are made at a lab and require 2 appts, one to prep the tooth and take an impression and you will have a temporary placed, the second appointment would be to permanently cement the fabricated restoration.


On the subject of it being a safer alternative to the mercury or amalgam fillings, there is no harm in the silver fillings. They are used less and less because the newer tooth colored fillings are more esthetically pleasing and the materials actually bond to the tooth (silver fillings are just condensed into the area). Better materials as technology advances. But there is no harm in the silver fillings, no matter what you hear on the contrary!
Reply:I have a porcelain cap on my tooth because I did not want to open my mouth and see a bunch of silver. You can't tell the difference in color with my regular teeth.
Reply:porcelain can be used but rather expensive and time involved. Most people will say porcelain but actually mean white/tooth colored filling. The actual procedure is a resin restoration. These fillings are done and act like those amalgam fillings (silver, mercury, black). The material is a resin and filler materials that are bonded to the tooth. They cost about 20% more than amalgams. All three options are good. It depends on location in the mouth and how much you want to spend.