Fillings Center - Oak Park, IL
WebMD Physician DirectoryOak Park, IllinoisUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 Oak Park
Nearby Oak Park Hospitals * Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center  Loretto Hospital  Hartgrove Hospital  RUSH Oak Park Hospital  Riveredge Hospital  Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital  John J Madden Mental Health Center  Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago  Loyola University Medical Center  MacNeal Hospital  Advocate Bethany Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Westlake Hospital  Sacred Heart Hospital  Gottlieb Memorial Hospital  Norwegian-American Hospital  Saint Anthony Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Chicago Central  Resurrection Health Care Saint Elizabeth Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center  Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital  Jesse Brown VA Medical Center  Chicago-Read Mental Health Center  John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County  University of Illinois Medical Center  Johnston R Bowman Health Center  Rush University Medical Center  Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Northlake  Kindred Hospital Chicago North  Children's Memorial Hospital  Lincoln Park Hospital  Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center  Resurrection Health Care Resurrection Medical Center  Swedish Covenant Hospital  CINN Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago  Elmhurst Memorial Hospital  Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital  Northwestern Memorial Hospital  Prentice Women's Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Joseph Hospital  Mercy Hospital & Medical Center  Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago  Thorek Memorial Hospital  Methodist Hospital of Chicago  Holy Cross Hospital  Adventist Hinsdale Hospital  Weiss Memorial Hospital  Chicago Lakeshore Hospital  RML Specialty Hospital  Provident Hospital of Cook County  Kindred Hospital Chicago Lakeshore  St Bernard Hospital & Health Care Center  University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital  University of Chicago Hospital Bernard Mitchell  Advocate Christ Medical Center & Hope Children's Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Francis Hospital  Advocate Lutheran General Hospital  Little Company of Mary Hospital & Health Care Centers  RUSH North Shore Medical Center  Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital  Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center  La Rabida Children's Hospital  NorthShore University HealthSystems  Resurrection Health Care Holy Family Medical Center  South Shore Hospital  Adventist GlenOaks Hospital  Palos Community Hospital  Alexian Brothers Medical Center  Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital  Glenbrook Hospital  Advocate Trinity Hospital  Roseland Community Hospital  MetroSouth Medical Center  Northwest Community 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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