Fillings Center - Clearwater, FL
WebMD Physician DirectoryClearwater, FloridaUpcoming 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 FillingsDental X-Rays: When to Get Them » What Types of Problems Can X-Rays Detect?In adults, X-ray films can be used to:
In children, dental X-ray films are used to:
Other Related Fillings ArticlesEmergency Contact for Clearwater
Nearby Clearwater Hospitals * Morton Plant Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo  Mease Dunedin Hospital  Largo Medical Center  Windmoor Healthcare of Clearwater  Sun Coast Hospital  Mease Countryside Hospital  Bay Pines VA Healthcare System  Northside Hospital & Tampa Bay Heart Institute  Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital  St Petersburg General Hospital  Town & Country Hospital  Palms of Pasadena Hospital  Edward White Hospital  St Anthony's Hospital  Bayfront Medical Center  All Children's Hospital  Kindred Hospital Tampa  University Community Hospital Carrollwood  Kindred Hospital St Petersburg  St Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa  St Joseph's Hospital  St Joseph's Women's Hospital  Memorial Hospital of Tampa  Community Hospital of New Port Richey  Kindred Hospital Central Tampa  Morton Plant North Bay Hospital  Tampa General Hospital  Shriners Hospital for Children  James A Haley VA Medical Center  University Community Hospital  H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute  Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point  Brandon Regional Hospital  South Bay 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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