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What is the The Tooth Filling Process?
Fillings are one of the most common dental procedures and are done using local anesthesia. The process includes the following steps:
- A thorough teeth cleaning is done to remove plaque that has built up and potentially caused the decay or cavities. A dental hygienist will generally complete this step first.
- The area of your mouth where the affected tooth is located is numbed to make sure the procedure is painless. This is most commonly done by first using a numbing gel on the gum, then a small shot of anesthesia is administered directly to the area.
- Once the anesthesia has kicked in, your dentist will then use a dental drill and special instruments to remove the bacteria and decay that is damaging the tooth.
- Next, the hole that was created by the drill is filled in with a material that will become hard. This creates a barrier that protects the tooth.
- After a short time, the filling is set and dried, and patients can return to normal eating and oral hygiene habits.
How Do You Know You Need a Filling?
If the cavity in your tooth is not extensive or very shallow on the surface of the tooth, there may be little to no symptoms at all. This is why it’s so important to have regular dental exams to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums. Some tooth decay or cavities are not visually apparent, and can only be detected using dental x-rays.
If you are experiencing some pain in your teeth, make an appointment to see your dentist right away. If you do need a filling and try to avoid the procedure, the tooth decay will keep spreading until it reaches the nerve and a root canal will be the only option. A filling is much less invasive and will prevent further bacterial damage.