A filling replaces missing tooth structure. If there is decay in
a tooth, the Doctor removes the decay and fills the tooth with
either amalgam (silver filling material) or composite resin
(tooth-colored filling material). If the cavity (decay) is left
untreated, then the tooth will likely need a root canal or
extracted. A crown is usually used to strengthen a tooth that
has little remaining tooth structure left. A crown can be made
from gold, porcelain, or a combination of both. A sealant is a
plastic material that covers the grooves of a tooth to keep
decay from starting. Although teeth hard on the outside, in the
middle of the tooth and its roots is the pulp (or nerve). Once
this becomes infected or irritated, a root canal may be
necessary. The Doctor will remove the affected pulp or nerve by
going through the top of the tooth and using specialized
instruments to clean the entire pulp out of the tooth and its
roots. The Doctor will then fill and seal the roots. Root canals
are usually not painful and only t