Gold alloys contain gold, copper and other metals that results in a strong effective filling, crown or bridge.

Gold alloys are primarily used for inlays, onlays, crowns and fixed bridges.

There are two form of gold fillings, cast gold fillings(gold inlay and onlay) made with 14 or 18 kt gold and gold foil made with pure 24 kt gold.

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TYPES:
1.GOLD INLAY
Gold inlay is basically gold filling which fits within the contours of tooth. The gold inlay involves the occlusal and proximal surface of posterior tooth and may cap one or more but not all of the cusps.

Gold inlay is custom crafted in dental laboratory to precisely fit tooth so it takes two appointments to restore tooth with an inlay.

INDICATION:
    1. Replace over amalgam restoration.
    2. When proximal surface caries is extensive.
    3. Gold inlay restorations for class-1, class-4, class-5, and class-6 cavity.

2. GOLD ONLAY
Gold onlay involves the proximal surface of a posterior tooth and caps all of the cusps.

A gold onlay covers and protects the biting surface of a tooth that is severely damaged and not possible with dental filling.

INDICATION:
    1. In posterior teeth after root canal treatment.
    2. As a splinting to improve stability of the teeth.
    3. Partial coverage of posterior teeth where significant loss of coronal dentine.

ADVANTAGE:
    1. Strength (can withstand occlusal forces)
    2. Long lasting life (at least 10 to 15 years)
    3. Naturally beautiful
    4. Gold is pliable.
    5. Gold is versatile.

DISADVANTAGES:
    1. Expensive
    2. Galvanic shock
    3. More visit

TYPES:
Glass ionomer are classified into five types.
    1. Conventional glass ionomer cements.
    2. Resin modified glass ionomer cements.
    3. Hybrid ionomer cements. (Also known as dual cured glass ionomer cement).
    4. Tri-cure glass ionomer cements.
    5. Metal reinforced glass ionomer cements.

INDICATION:
    1. Type-2 glass ionomer for restorations.
    2. Type-3 glass ionomer for liners and bases.
    3. Type-4 glass ionomer for fissure sealants.
    4. Type-5 glass ionomer for core build up.
    5. Intermediate Restorations.
    6. Restorations for decidious teeth.
    7. Adhesive cavity liners(sandwich technique)

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After

ADVANTAGE:

1. Inherent adhesion to tooth structure
2. High retention rate
3. Little shrinkage and good marginal seal
4. Fluoride release and caries inhibition
5. Biocompatible
6. Minimal cavity preparation

DISADVANTAGE:

1. Brittle
2. Soluble
3. Abrasive
4. Water sensitive during setting phase
5. Less aesthetic than composite

CONTRAINDICATION:

1. Aesthetic requirement
2. Area of high abrasion
3. Area of high occlusal load

Dental composite resins are types of synthetic resins which are used in dentistry as restorative material or adhesives.

Composite resins are most commonly composed of BISGMA (Bisphenol Glycidyl Methacrylate).
Now UDMA (urethane dimethacrylate) and TEGDMA (Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) are also being used.

Fillers used are quartz, silica, tricalcium phosphate, zirconium dioxide. They provide strength, hardness, rigidity to the material.

Coupling agent binds the resin matrix to the filler particles. Organic salines are commonly used coupling agents.

Coloring agents used are aluminium oxide, titanium dioxide.

Composite are divided into types depending upon the size, amount and composition of the inorganic filler.

TYPES:

1. Conventional
2. Microfilled
3. Nanofilled

More advance composite

• Flowable composite
• Laser curing composite
• Packable composite
• Antibacterial composite

Placement of composite requires an etchant and bonding agent.
-On the bases of how they can be used the composite fillings are divided into two types

Direct dental composite
Direct dental composite placed by dentist in clinical one visit.

Composites are available in many shades so according to color of tooth shade is selected to give best esthetic results through single shade, dual shade and multilayering technique.

Before putting the resin in the cavity the area treated with an agent that is called as the etching process.

After etching and bond is applied which is cured by light then composite is placed and is cured with light.

Direct dental composites can be used for

1. Filling gaps (diastemas) between teeth using a shell-like veneer.
2. Minor reshaping of teeth.
3. Partial crowns on single teeth.

INDIRECT DENTAL COMPOSITE
This type of composite is cured outside the mouth.
Indirect composites can have higher filler levels and are cured for longer times
As result they have higher levels and depths of cure then direct composite.

Indirect dental composites can be used for 

1. Filling cavities in teeth as fillings, inlays and onlays.
2. Filling gaps between teeth using a shell-like veneer.
3. Reshaping of teeth.
4. Full or partial crowns on single teeth.
5. Bridges.

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After

Dental amalgam is the most commonly used dental restorative material used for dental fillings.

Fillings made with amalgam are also known as silver fillings.

Amalgam consists of combination of metals, these include silver, mercury, tin, copper and small amounts of zinc, iridium or palladium with development of tooth colored materials to restore teeth, amalgam is used less often than in the past.

INDICATION:
Amalgum restorations for class-1 cavity, class-2 cavity, class-3 cavity, class-4 cavity and class-5 cavity.

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ADVANTAGE:

1. Long lasting and strong, with stand the forces of chewing.
2. Less costly than the other material

DISADVANTAGE:

1. amalgam doesn’t match with natural color of tooth.
2. amalgam doesn’t bond with natural tooth.
3. Requirement of cavity preparation to keep filling in place.