Dental Fillings

There are different types of dental fillings and depending on the location of the tooth, the extent of repair, allergies, and your budget; your dentist will come up with a treatment plan that is best for your case. Typically, most dental filling procedures feature the following:

• Initial Consultation: Your dentist will examine the suspected tooth (teeth) using caries detecting liquid or a dental probe, and may take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage or cavity. If s/he determines you’re a candidate for filling, the procedure goes as below.
• Anesthesia: Your dentist will inject an anesthetic to numb the part of the decayed tooth to keep you comfortable during treatment. The area around target tooth/teeth may be isolated with a rubber dental dam to keep it dry and free from contamination. This also prevents the patient from having to swallow bacteria-rich decay and old filling material.
• Actual filling: Your dentist will then remove the decay using a drill and a laser handpiece, or an abrasion handpiece. After ensuring all the decayed parts have been removed, the area is cleansed to get rid of bacteria or debris before filling. However, if the cavity is deep, s/he may apply a base layer to insulate the tooth pulp. Once this is done, the filling can finally be placed, and the tooth will then be polished.
• Follow up: After successful completion of the dental filling procedure, your dentist will advise you on the necessary steps you can take to stop decay in the future. Additionally, your dentist may recommend over-the-counter medicines to ease the pain because many patients feel sensitivity after they receive a filling.