The process of removing cavities and then filling the teeth with dental fillings is pretty straightforward. Apart from cavities, fillers are an effective remedy for a chipped or broken tooth. The simple procedure is quite long-lasting and is done right at Brookshire Smile Dental. At Brookshire, we care about your smile and give in our best effort. Let’s discuss what you can expect during a dental filling procedure.
The Dental Procedure:
You should look forward to being in your dentist’s office for no more than an hour. An hour will be enough to complete the entire procedure. The first step to get a dental filling is numbing the affected tooth. Your dentist will use local anesthesia to anesthetize the tooth and nearby gums.
After the numbing effects set in, the drilling begins. During the drilling, your dentist will evacuate the decayed area of the tooth. Following the clearing of the diseased region, your dentist will apply an acid gel. The acid gel serves two functions:
- The gel acts as an antiseptic, so it kills off any lingering bacteria. If left untreated, a dental infection can kick in after the treatment.
- The gel slightly wears off the surrounding enamel to make it rough. The roughness of the enamel improves adhesion to the filling.
Following the cleansing of the tooth, a bonding agent is applied to the edged enamel surface. The bonding agent is later “cured” or hardened by exposing it to a special light. Now, it is time to fill the tooth with the selected dental fillings. The finance, position of the filling, and aesthetics are a few factors that dictate the selection of the dental filling. There are several types of fillings from which you can choose.
Metal fillings: These are extremely durable, tough, and expensive. Hence, they are a good option for molar fillings. Gold and silver are often used to serve the purpose, with gold fillings about 10x more expensive than silver ones.
Composite fillings: These tooth-colored fillings are reasonably durable and often used for small restoration or used in an area that performs moderate chewing. Furthermore, these fillings are economical as well.
Amalgam fillings: These are a mixture of metals and are the most common ones. They are as durable as metal fillings but a more economical option.
After the bonding agent sets in, your dentist will fill the opening with the selected and viable filling. And with that, the procedure concludes. In the end, your dentist may take a dental x-ray to ensure all cavities are treated effectively.
Conclusion:
Dental fillings, a reasonably simple procedure, leave behind little or no repercussions. However, the numbness can last for a few more hours. Furthermore, if the infection was deep, tooth sensitivity may persist for some time. Eventually, a healthy tooth will repair itself, and everything will be back to normal.
Nevertheless, it is best to get a follow-up checkup with your dentist after the procedure. You can inquire more about the process and know how it is done at Brookshire Smile Dental by calling us at 281-934-1010.