White Fillings
In the past, when teeth had cavities in them, they would be filled with a "silver" filling. These fillings required a substantial amount of tooth to be removed, prior to placing the filling. Over time, the filling would corrode, cause a possible fracture of the tooth, and eventually need replacement.
Nowadays, white fillings (more properly termed tooth-colored fillings) allow the dentist to fill a decayed tooth safely, while removing the least amount of tooth structure. The filling is bonded onto the tooth, that's why they are sometimes referred to as "bondings." They have a more esthetic look to them, versus the old silver fillings.
Before and after pictures of same teeth with silver and white fillings.
