Fillings Center - Allentown, PA
WebMD Physician DirectoryAllentown, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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FillingsIntroductionTo treat a cavity your dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then "fill" the area on the tooth where the decayed material once lived. Fillings are also used to repair cracked or broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from misuse (such as from nail-biting or tooth grinding ). What Steps Are Involved in Filling a Tooth? First, the dentist will numb the area around the tooth to be worked on with a local anesthetic. Next, a drill, air abrasion instrument or laser will be used to remove the decayed area. The choice of instrument depends on the individual dentist's comfort level, training, and investment in the particular piece of equipment as well as location and extent of the decay. Next, your dentist will probe or test the area during the decay removal process to determine if all the decay has been removed. Once the decay has been removed, your dentist will prepare the space for the filling by cleaning the cavity of bacteria and debris. If the decay is near the root, your dentist may first put in a liner made of glass ionomer, composite resin, or other material to protect the nerve. Generally, after the filling is in, your dentist will finish and polish it. Several additional steps are required for tooth-colored fillings and are as follows. After your dentist has removed the decay and cleaned the area, the tooth-colored material is applied in layers. Next, a special light that "cures" or hardens each layer is applied. When the multilayering process is completed, your dentist will shape the composite material to the desired result, trim off any excess material and polish the final restoration. What Types of Filling Materials are Available? Today, several dental filling materials are available. Teeth can be filled with gold; porcelain; silver amalgam (which consists of mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper); or tooth-colored... Recommended Reading Related to FillingsWho Should Get Sealants?Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are obvious candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants. Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the dental sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child's baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it is important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early. How Are Sealants Applied?Applying the sealant is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few m... Other Related Fillings ArticlesEmergency Contact for Allentown
Nearby Allentown Hospitals * Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th & Chew Streets  Sacred Heart Hospital  Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Allentown  St Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus  Allentown State Hospital  Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest  St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus  Westfield Hospital  Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg Center  Good Shepherd Home Bethlehem  KidsPeace Children's Hospital  St Luke's Quakertown Hospital  Easton Hospital  Triumph Hospital Easton  Blue Mountain Health System Palmerton Campus  Warren Hospital  Grand View Hospital  Blue Mountain Health System Gnaden Huetten Campus  Pottstown Memorial Medical Center  Central Montgomery Medical Center  Foundations Behavioral Health  Doylestown Hospital  St Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital  Senator Garret W Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital  St Joseph Medical Center  Eagleville Hospital  Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital at Pocono Medical Center  Pocono Medical Center  The Reading Hospital & Medical Center  Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Reading Rehabilitation Hospital  Hunterdon Medical Center  Montgomery County Emergency Service  Mercy Suburban Hospital  Phoenixville Hospital  Norristown State Hospital  Horsham Clinic  Montgomery Hospital  Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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