White fillings or tooth-colored fillings are called composites. Composites are a mixture of glass or quartz filler that provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to mid-size restorations that need to withstand moderate pressure from chewing. They are generally used on either front or back teeth. Composites are “bonded” or adhered in a cavity. This can allow your dentist to make a more conservative repair to your tooth, meaning less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth. This may result in a smaller filling than that of a metal (amalgam) filling.
