Fillings Center - Federal Way, WA
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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 Federal Way
Nearby Federal Way Hospitals * St Francis Hospital  Auburn Regional Medical Center  Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center  Tacoma General Hospital  St Joseph Medical Center  Pierce County Human Services  Allenmore Hospital  Good Samaritan Hospital & Community Healthcare  Highline Medical Center Main Campus  Valley Medical Center  Highline Medical Center Specialty Campus  The Regional Hospital for Respiratory & Complex Care  Saint Clare Hospital  Schick Shadel Hospital  West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital  Enumclaw Regional Hospital  VA Puget Sound Health Care System  Harborview Medical Center  Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus  Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus  Virginia Mason Medical Center  Group Health Central Hospital  Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  Overlake Hospital Medical Center  Harrison Medical Center  University of Washington Medical Center  Group Health Eastside Hospital  Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center  Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus  Kindred Hospital Seattle  Northwest Hospital & Medical Center  Evergreen Hospital Medical Center  Fairfax Hospital  Providence St Peter Hospital  Capital Medical Center  Stevens 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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