What to Expect from the Dental Fillings Procedure?
You undoubtedly express fear when informed by the dentist near you during your routine visit for checkups and cleanings that you have a dental cavity that needs filling immediately. The dentist recommends the filling to seal a hole in your tooth and prevent the bacteria within from creating additional damage besides experiencing tooth loss and the possibility of pain and infection.
Fearing the dental filling procedure, you put off treatment for later, thinking the cavity will heal itself. Your thinking is entirely unjust because you allow the bacteria in the tooth to create additional damage that will leave you susceptible to expensive treatments like root canals. Getting a cavity filled when recommended without delaying the treatment helps save your tooth and even prevents the infection from spreading to your neighboring teeth.
Why Do You Fear Getting Dental Fillings?
Your fear of getting dental fillings is justified because you may not like the smell and sounds of the dental office or the dental drill. Perhaps you think the dental filling will require multiple appointments with your dentist and cost you considerably to get your tooth repaired.
Fortunately, the dental filling procedure is pretty straightforward and completed by dentists in about 45 minutes. You will have to endure the dental drill but are unlikely to feel it in your mouth after receiving adequate anesthesia to numb your tooth. You will likely not even feel the anesthesia injected in your gums because the dentist numbs them with gel to leave you feeling entirely comfortable.
Dentists may use dental drills or other specialized instruments for decay removal from a tooth before cleaning and disinfecting the hollow space for debris and bacteria removal. After preparing your tooth for the filling, the dentist fills it with the material you have chosen and polishes the filling to ensure your bite feels normal.
As you complete the dental filling procedure and begin to leave the dentist’s office, you receive recommendations not to eat or drink anything until the anesthesia wears off to ensure you don’t bite your tongue or cheeks accidentally after the procedure.
What Kind of Dental Fillings Do You Receive?
There are different types of dental fillings you can have in your infected tooth. The dentist recommends the best option suited for your specific requirement considering the location of the cavity, its extent, your budget, and aesthetic preferences.
Dentists offer you silver amalgam fillings, a combination of silver, copper, tin, and mercury if your cavity is on the back teeth where biting pressures are the highest. If you dislike silver, dentists can provide gold fillings if you are prepared to spend on expensive material and visit the dentist twice to have your tooth filled. Silver amalgam fillings are durable and last for 10 to 15 years before needing replacements.
If aesthetic preferences are your concern, dentists recommend tooth-colored composite resin fillings appropriate for the front teeth and costing more than silver amalgam. Tooth-colored fillings need replacements every five to seven years. Other materials available for dental fillings include ceramic and glass ionomer.
You help yourself by accepting your dentist’s advice on the filling material best suited for the cavity in your tooth. They are, after all, the experts in dentistry and recommend the best material available after considering durability and costs for your benefit.
If you are concerned about the tooth filling cost, we suggest the costs of filling a tooth depend on the location of your mouth where the cavity exists, the filling material used, and the size of the hole. If you have extensive decay, the dental filling will likely cost more and require multiple appointments, especially if the filling needs fabrication from a dental laboratory. If not, you can have dental fillings at affordable prices from dentists in your locality.
Dental fillings are essential to treat tooth decay. Getting dental fillings prevents further damage and reduces the risks of discomfort and infection, and helps you maintain overall dental health. Dr. Ervin M Ricafort provides appropriate advice on why you must have dental fillings soon after detecting a cavity. You may experience mild sensitivity or pain after getting your tooth filled. However, if you do, you can contact the doctor for advice that they will happily provide.
If you need fillings for a cavity, do not hesitate to contact Ricafort Dental PLLC to repair your tooth and prevent unnecessary additional expenditure.