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Cavities don’t usually hurt. Toothaches are more commonly a symptom of a tooth infection.
First, your mouth will be numbed using local anesthesia. Your dentist will apply a topical numbing agent to your gums, and use a needle to numb the nerves near the treatment area. This ensures you won’t feel any pain or discomfort throughout the treatment process.
Next, your dentist will use a dental drill to remove decayed enamel and damaged material from your tooth. Then, the tooth will be cleaned and disinfected to prepare it for your filling.
Your dentist will fill your tooth and restore its structure with a tooth-compatible material like dental resin. Once the tooth has been filled, the filling will be trimmed and adjusted to ensure that it matches your natural bite and feels comfortable.
Tooth-colored dental fillings are an ideal way to fill cavities and caries because they can be matched to the color of your teeth. Similar to their metal amalgam predecessor, they are also very strong and durable. Because the front teeth are so visible, composite fillings were originally used most often for anterior teeth fillings, but they have since become the standard filling option for most cavities.
With a tooth-colored filling, your smile will look and feel completely natural. Your new filling should last 10-15 years or longer with proper care, such as regular brushing and flossing, and regular teeth cleanings and oral exams every 6 months.
Amalgam fillings are often called “silver” fillings because they have a silvery-gray appearance. However, they usually don’t contain very much silver at all. Instead, they are made of a blend of different metals, including silver, mercury, tin, and copper. This metal mixture is strong, durable, and resistant to the pressure of chewing and biting.
Amalgam fillings are used less often these days in favor of composite. Our office has phased out use of this type of filling material.
There are more than 3 million cases of cavities in the US every year.
Nearly 80% of Americans have had at least one cavity before the age of 18.
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