MedicineNet

Fillings Center - Palm Bay, FL

WebMD Physician Directory

Palm Bay, Florida

Upcoming Local Events

2012-05-26
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Melbourne
Throughout Melbourne, Florida
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Orlando
Throughout Orlando, Florida
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Port Saint Lucie
Throughout Port Saint Lucie, Florida
2012-07-07
Altamonte Crossfit Summer Hybrid Event
Altamonte Springs, Florida
2012-09-01
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Port Saint Lucie ...
Throughout Port Saint Lucie, Florida
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Orlando
Throughout Orlando, Florida

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 Palm Bay

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Palm Bay Hospitals *

Palm Bay Community Hospital
1425 Malabar Rd NE
Palm Bay, FL 32907
(321)434-8000

HEALTHSOUTH Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital
101 E Florida Ave
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321)984-4600

Circles of Care
400 E Sheridan Rd
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321)722-5200

Holmes Regional Medical Center
1350 S Hickory St
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321)434-7000

Wuesthoff Medical Center Melbourne
250 N Wickham Rd
Melbourne, FL 32935
(321)752-1200

Devereux Florida
8000 Devereux Dr
Viera, FL 32940
(321)242-9100

Sebastian River Medical Center
13695 US Hwy 1
Sebastian, FL 32958
(772)589-3186

Wuesthoff Health System
110 Longwood Ave
Rockledge, FL 32955
(321)636-2211

Cape Canaveral Hospital
701 W Cocoa Beach Cswy
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321)799-7111

HEALTHSOUTH Treasure Coast Rehabilitation Hospital
1600 37th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772)778-2100

Indian River Medical Center
1000 36th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772)567-4311

*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.