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Fillings Center - Eagan, MN

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Eagan, Minnesota

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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 X-Rays: When to Get Them »

What Types of Problems Can X-Rays Detect?

In adults, X-ray films can be used to:

  • Show areas of decay that may not be visible with an oral examination, especially small areas of decay between teeth
  • Identify decay occurring beneath an existing filling
  • Reveal bone loss that accompanies gum disease
  • Reveal changes in the bone or in the root canal resulting from infection
  • Assist in the preparation of tooth implants, braces, dentures, or other dental procedures
  • Reveal abscesses (an infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth)
  • Reveal other developmental abnormalities, such as cysts and some types of tumors

In children, dental X-ray films are used to:

  • Watch for decay
  • Determine if there is enough space in the mouth to fit all incoming teeth
  • Determine if p...

Emergency Contact for Eagan

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Eagan Hospitals *

Minneapolis VA Medical Center
1 Veterans Dr
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612)725-2000

Fairview Ridges Hospital
201 E Nicollet Blvd
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952)892-2000

Children's Hospitals and Clinics St Paul
345 N Smith Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651)220-6000

St Joseph's Hospital
69 W Exchange St
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651)232-3000

United Hospital
333 N Smith Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651)241-8000

Fairview Southdale Hospital
6401 France Ave S
Edina, MN 55435
(952)924-5000

Shriners Hospital for Children Twin Cities
2025 E River Pkwy
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612)596-6100

Regions Hospital
640 Jackson St
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651)254-3456

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
200 E University Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651)291-2848

Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital Saint Paul
559 Capitol Blvd
Saint Paul, MN 55103
(651)232-2000

Abbott Northwestern Hospital
800 E 28th St
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612)863-4000

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
800 E 28th St
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612)863-4495

Children's Hospitals and Clinics Minneapolis
2525 Chicago Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612)813-6000

University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview Riverside Campus
2414 S 7th St
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612)672-6000

Phillips Eye Institute
2215 Park Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612)775-8800

University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview University Campus
500 Harvard St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612)626-3000

Woodwinds Health Campus
1925 Woodwinds Dr
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651)232-0100

Hennepin County Medical Center
701 Park Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612)873-3000

Methodist Hospital
6500 Excelsior Blvd
Saint Louis Park, MN 55426
(952)993-5000

Regency Hospital of Minneapolis
1300 Hidden Lake Pkwy
Golden Valley, MN 55422
(763)588-2750

Regina Medical Center
1175 Nininger Rd
Hastings, MN 55033
(651)480-4100

North Memorial Medical Center
3300 Oakdale Ave N
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
(763)520-5200

St John's Hospital
1575 Beam Ave
Maplewood, MN 55109
(651)232-7000

St Francis Regional Medical Center
1455 St Francis Ave
Shakopee, MN 55379
(952)403-3000

Unity Hospital
550 Osborne Rd
Fridley, MN 55432
(763)236-5000

Lakeview Hospital
927 Churchill St W
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651)439-5330

Hudson Hospital
405 Stageline Rd
Hudson, WI 54016
(715)531-6000

Cannon Falls Medical Center
1116 W Mill St
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
(507)263-4221

Northfield Hospital
2000 North Ave
Northfield, MN 55057
(507)646-1000

Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center
14500 99th Ave N
Maple Grove, MN 55369
(763)898-1000

Mercy Hospital
4050 Coon Rapids Blvd
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
(763)236-6000

Queen of Peace Hospital
301 Second St NE
New Prague, MN 56071
(952)758-4431

River Falls Area Hospital
1629 E Division St
River Falls, WI 54022
(715)425-6155

Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center
3301 7th Ave N
Anoka, MN 55303
(651)431-5000

Ridgeview Medical Center
500 S Maple St
Waconia, MN 55387
(952)442-2191

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