Composite fillings are white fillings designed to match the color of your teeth. Composites may be used to repair a defect or restore a decayed tooth. Often used on front teeth, they may also be used in back, if the restoration is minor. While the composite filling is more natural looking, silver (amalgam) fillings are generally stronger and less costly.
These new materials have not eliminated the usefulness of more traditional dental materials, such as gold. This is because the strength and durability of traditional dental materials continue to make them useful for situations such as fillings in the back teeth where chewing forces are greatest.