Some consider it to be poison inside your mouth, others regard it as an indispensable material for fillings.

Technique:
Removing decay (drilling a hole), filling, done
Advantage:
It is usually possible to perfectly close the hole with amalgam. 100% of the costs are covered by statutory health insurance. .
Disadvantage:
For many years amalgam has been the subject of debate as a potential cause for headaches, depressions and impaired vision. Up until today there has been no scientific proof to either confirm or refute this argument.

Due to its composition and the possibility to match the color of your natural teeth, composite fillings are the standard for visible fillings

Technique:
Removing decay, dental dam, so that the filling area is completely dry, applying bonding system and multiple layers of the individual color (one appointment necessary)
Advantage:
After just one appointment with your dentist, everything looks and feels great
Disadvantage:
Composite fillings tend to shrink during the drying process. This can lead to a small gap, which may make the tooth prone to cavities. However, modern composite fillings have been improved in this regard. The very complex and elaborate processing makes them more expensive than amalgam fillings. Statutory health insurance usually covers only a certain percentage of the costs.

Ceramics are the high-end standard of aesthetics – the alternative to gold

Technique:
Removing decay, preparing site, taking a dental imprint, temporary treatment of filling, fabrication of ceramic inlay at the lab, the inlay is cemented underneath the dental dam (two appointments necessary)
Advantage:
Even large defects can be filled invisibly with ceramic inlays. Also, more of the actual tooth structure remains since the filling requires a smaller size hold.
Disadvantage:
Ceramic inlays are relatively expensive and not covered by statutory health insurance.

The gold filling is a remarkable medical achievement, which has been used for centuries. Once made, fillings can last 20 years and more due to their extremely solid, allergy-free and durable material.

Technique:
Removing decay, preparation of filling, taking dental imprint, temporary treatment of filling, fabrication of gold inlay at the lab, cementing (two appointments necessary)
Advantage:
In terms of tolerance and longevity, gold is basically unrivaled.
Disadvantage:
Aesthetics. A mouth full of gold looks unnatural – and it is covered only partially by your health insurance.