Dental restorations include direct and indirect restorations. Direct restorations are made in the dental office directly in the patient's mouth. Indirect restorations are created in a dental laboratory using impressions made of the patient’s teeth. These usually require multiple visits to the dental office. Typically, a temporary restoration is placed in the patient’s mouth between these visits. Indirect restorations tend to be more expensive than direct restorations, even when they are made from similar materials.

Only a dentist can decide what type of dental restoration is right for a particular patient. The different types of restorations include:

• Fillings. These direct restorations are used to repair teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay and cavities. They can be used for the repair of very small or moderately sized areas of decay in primary or permanent teeth. Fillings can be made from amalgam, composite resin, or glass or resin ionomers. The longevity of a filling depends on several factors, such as the material, location, patient circumstances and skill of the dentist placing it.
  

  

• Inlays and onlays. These indirect restorations can cover some or all of the chewing surface of molars or premolars.  They are larger than fillings, but do not cover as much of the tooth as a crown. Inlays lie entirely within the contours of the tooth, between the cusps. Onlays cover at least one cusp. Both inlays and onlays can restore a tooth too badly damaged for a filling. The choice depends on how much of the tooth needs to be restored. For example, onlays are generally preferred when more than half of the chewing surface needs restoration. Inlays and onlays can be made from gold or other metal alloys, composite resin or porcelain and usually last for decades.
  
  
• Veneers. Indirect restorations that are extremely thin shells placed on the front side of teeth. They are primarily used for cosmetic purposes (e.g., stained teeth, chipped teeth, gaps between teeth) and may be crafted from porcelain or composite resin. The lifespan of veneers is similar to crowns but depends on patient maintenance.
  
  
• Crowns. These indirect restorations cover the entire visible portion of a tooth. Crowns can restore severely damaged teeth that other restorations cannot. They are also frequently used with bridges and implants. Crowns may be made from gold or other metal alloys, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal or composite resin. Crowns will usually last seven years or longer.
  
  
• Implants. An implant is an indirect restoration made of an artificial tooth root that supports an artificial tooth or teeth (e.g., crown, bridge, dentures) surgically placed in the jaw. Implants are used to replace missing or lost teeth with stable, well-anchored, natural-looking artificial teeth. Implants are usually made of titanium metal alloy.
  
  
• Dentures. A type of indirect restoration made of a removable dental appliance to replace missing teeth with artificial teeth attached to a gum-like denture base. Preparation and placement requires multiple visits to the dental office. impressions of the mouth and gums are taken and the materials are designed to look like natural teeth. They are usually made of porcelain or acrylic resin.
  
  
• Surgical restoration. Teeth and gums damaged by accidental injury or disease may be repaired using different types of restorations depending on the damage. Surgery to repair the initial trauma and to restore and maintain teeth and gums may be necessary.