What is the difference between a “filling” and a “restoration”?

Both these terms are used interchangeably but they are very different in their meaning to a dentist. A layman commonly knows that a tooth is “filled” if there is a cavity ; just like filling up a pot hole on the road. But to a dentist it means “restoring” a tooth to its proper shape, size and function while maintaining the aesthetics of the tooth.
A proper restoration would require ~45mins of layer by layer build up of the tooth structure. It is a piece of art in your mouth.
So the next time, you have been advised a restoration, look forward to an hour of relaxation on the dental chair and wait for the dentist to churn out his magic!

A”filling” on a tooth

Filling material removed

 

                                                                           

 

 

Tooth “restored”