MedicineNet

Fillings Center - Biloxi, MS

WebMD Physician Directory

Biloxi, Mississippi

Upcoming Local Events

2012-05-26
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Biloxi
Throughout Biloxi, Mississippi
2012-06-24
2012-09-08
Hurricane Run 5K and Fun Run
Dauphin Island, Alabama
2012-09-22
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Prichard
Throughout Prichard, Alabama
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - West Gulfport
Throughout West Gulfport, Mississippi
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Gulfport
Throughout Gulfport, Mississippi

Fillings

Introduction

To 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 Fillings

Dental Sealants »

Who 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...

Emergency Contact for Biloxi

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Biloxi Hospitals *

Gulf Coast Medical Center
180-A Debuys Rd
Biloxi, MS 39531
(228)388-6711

Gulf Oaks Hospital
180-C DeBuys Rd
Biloxi, MS 39531
(228)388-0600

VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System
400 Veterans Ave
Biloxi, MS 39531
(228)523-5000

Biloxi Regional Medical Center
150 Reynoir St
Biloxi, MS 39530
(228)432-1571

Select Specialty Hospital Biloxi
648 Beach Blvd
Biloxi, MS 39530
(228)374-7474

Garden Park Community Hospital
15200 Community Rd
Gulfport, MS 39501
(228)575-7000

Memorial Behavioral Health Gulfport
1150 Hwy 49 N
Gulfport, MS 39501
(228)831-1700

Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
4500 13th St
Gulfport, MS 39502
(228)867-4000

Ocean Springs Hospital
3109 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228)818-1111

Hancock Medical Center
149 Drinkwater Blvd
Bay Saint Louis, MS 39521
(228)467-8600

Singing River Hospital
2809 Denny Ave
Pascagoula, MS 39581
(228)809-5000

Stone County Hospital
1434 E Central Ave
Wiggins, MS 39577
(601)928-6600

*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.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.