If your dentist tells you that you have a cavity, you will need to have the tooth filled. Although you have a few options to choose from related to the type of material used to fill the tooth, you should not avoid having the tooth filled because doing so can lead to further decay and damage.
Getting cavities filled doesn’t just fill a “hole” in your tooth caused by decay. Rather, during the process, the dentist removes any decayed tooth material to ensure that the decay doesn’t continue and get worse, which can not only lead to a bigger cavity, but can even result in an abscess (infection) requiring root canal and/or bone loss.
Due to the fact that untreated cavities can lead to more serious dental problems (and never get better if left untreated), it is imperative that you have your tooth filled promptly if you have been told you have a cavity. The good news is that there is no reason to worry about the procedure like many people used to years ago, because advances in techniques, technology and anesthesia make it a relatively simple procedure that is virtually pain-free.
Having a cavity filled only requires a single office visit. During the visit, the area to be treated will be numbed so you feel no pain during the procedure. Most dentists will do this by giving you a shot of a local anesthetic (like Novacaine) in the gum area near where they will be working on your tooth. Although many people find this shot uncomfortable, the good news is that it only hurts for a few seconds (feels like a pinch when the needle breaks the surface of the gum) but will then prevent you from feeling pain during the whole procedure. Some dentists will first rub a topical anesthetic gel on your gum prior to giving you the injection so that you don’t even feel the few seconds of discomfort from the needle insertion.
Once the local anesthetic has made you numb, it’s time for the dentist to get to work. He or she will use a dental drill, a laser or an air abrasion instrument to remove the decayed portion of your tooth. Dental drills are the most common way to perform this procedure, while air abrasion is a newer technique that some dentists use on minor cavities. Once all decayed material is removed, the dentist will clean out the area before filling the space left with a filling material.
There are a number of dental filling material options available these days. In addition to the traditional silver amalgam fillings, which are becoming less popular due to their looks and the fact that they include mercury, you can opt for composite fillings or ceramic fillings. Composite fillings are becoming one of the most popular dental filling options, since they match the natural color of your teeth. Ceramic, or porcelain, fillings also match natural tooth coloring, but can be abrasive if they hit up against natural teeth. Gold fillings are also still available but are not a very popular choice.
Whatever material is chosen, the dentist will fill the cleaned out cavity portion of the tooth with the filling and will then shape and polish it. Some material types, like composite resin, need to first be hardened using an ultraviolet light before being polished. Your bite will be checked and any modifications made at that time.
Once the procedure is complete, you are good to go. Your mouth may feel numb for a couple of hours after the procedure if you had a local anesthetic, so be careful when you eat or drink until you regain feeling (or you may dribble liquids or bite your lip). You may also experience some sensitivity in the filled tooth for the first few weeks, which is normal. If you do, avoid extremely hot or cold foods. If you have any pain or discomfort, however, you may need to go back to the dentist to have your bite checked because the cavity filling may have to be further reshaped.
For more information about dental fillings, or to make an appointment with one of our dentists if you believe you have a cavity and require a filling, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
