If your dentist has ever said “you have a couple of options here,” you know the feeling of being handed a decision you did not expect to make. Filling material choice is not one-size-fits-all.

The three materials we work with most often are composite resin, porcelain, and gold alloy. Each has a real, well-documented trade-off profile — none is simply better, and the right pick for a molar is often wrong for a front tooth.

How the three materials compare

Below is the short version of what we weigh in the chair. If you want the deeper reasoning, read our guide to tooth-coloured fillings.

Composite resin

Bonded directly to the tooth and shaded to match. Best for visible teeth and smaller repairs.

  • Appearance: excellent — effectively invisible when shaded well
  • Longevity: 7–10 years typically, and it depends heavily on:
    • bite force at that tooth position
    • whether you grind or clench at night
    • how well the area is kept clean
  • Cost: moderate

Porcelain (ceramic)

Milled in the lab or chairside, then bonded. It resists staining better than composite and is our usual pick for larger restorations on visible teeth.

When we tend to recommend it

  1. The repair is too large for composite to hold reliably
  2. The tooth is visible when you smile
  3. You want the most stain-resistant option, and in that case we will usually:
    1. take a digital scan of the tooth
    2. mill and fit a trial restoration
    3. bond the final piece once the fit is confirmed

Gold alloy

Unbeatable on durability, and gentle on the opposing tooth. The obvious trade-off is appearance, so we reserve it for back teeth.

A note on longevity claims

Published lifespans assume good home care. Use fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth daily, and keep recall visits.

The best material is the one that suits the tooth’s job, your bite, and how visible it is — in that order.

So which one should you choose?

For most back-tooth repairs we suggest porcelain or gold; for anything in the smile zone, composite or porcelain. Still unsure? Book a consultation and we will walk through it with you.