Fillings Center - The Woodlands, TX
WebMD Physician DirectoryThe Woodlands, TexasUpcoming 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 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 The Woodlands
Nearby The Woodlands Hospitals * Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital  Nexus Specialty Hospital Woodlands Campus  St Luke's Community Medical Center The Woodlands  Nexus Specialty Hospital Shenandoah Campus  HEALTHSOUTH North Houston Rehabilitation Hospital  Conroe Regional Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Conroe  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Houston  Triumph Hospital Northwest  Cypress Creek Hospital  IntraCare North Hospital  TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital  Houston Northwest Medical Center  Tomball Regional Medical Center  Triumph Hospital Tomball  Methodist Willowbrook Hospital  Memorial Hermann Northeast  HEALTHSOUTH Humble Rehabilitation Hospital  Kingwood Medical Center  Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital  Kindred Hospital Northwest  North Cypress Medical Center  Triumph Hospital North Houston  Doctors Hospital Parkway  Renaissance Hospital Houston  Doctors Hospital of Tidwell  Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Heights  Spring Branch Medical Center  Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital  Cleveland Regional Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Houston West  Twelve Oaks Medical Center River Oaks Campus  Triumph Hospital Town & Country  Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital  Dubuis Hospital of Houston  Triumph Hospital Houston Central  St Joseph Medical Center  Riverside General Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital for Specialized Surgery  Healthbridge Children's Hospital of Houston  Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center  Plaza Specialty Hospital  West Houston Medical Center  CHRISTUS St Catherine Hospital  Memorial Hermann Hospital  Kindred Hospital Houston  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Medical Center  Ben Taub General Hospital  The Methodist Hospital  Cornerstone Hospital of Houston at Bellaire  Texas Children's Hospital  University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center  West Oaks Hospital  Memorial Herman The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research  Shriners Hospitals for Children  St Luke's Episcopal Hospital  Harris Quentin Mease Community Hospital  Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  Texas Orthopedic Hospital  Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital  Riveroaks Medical Center Sharpstown Campus  University General Hospital  The Woman's Hospital of Texas  IntraCare Medical Center Hospital  Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital  Triumph Hospital East Houston  East Houston Regional Medical Center  Harris County Hospital District  Texas Specialty Hospital  Kindred Hospital Bay Area 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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