Harmful bacteria can produce strong acids that corrode your teeth over time, which turns into tooth decay or tooth cavities. If you're facing tooth decay or a tooth cavity, then chances are that you need a filling to protect your healthy teeth from following the same decaying journey. This guide is designed to help you with steps a dentist follows to fill a cavity in your mouth.
Use Anaesthetic for Numbing the Nerves
The first step involved in getting a filling is to stay comfortable, so your dentist will usually give you an anaesthetic to soothe your nerves before the filling procedure. An anaesthetic interrupts communication between the brain and your teeth, so you're unlikely to feel any pain once the anaesthetic has been given to you. Your dentist may apply a numbing gel to the area before administering the local anaesthetic injection. The dentist may dry the area before applying the numbing gel, so that it soaks in deeper and faster. Once the numbing gel takes effect, the local anaesthetic will be given to you.
Apply a Bite Block
Once the area is numb, your dentist will need to get your mouth ready for filling by applying a bite block between your lower and upper teeth to keep your jaw open. This soft rubber element works seamlessly because it is difficult to keep your mouth open during long filling procedures. The bite block will prevent your jaw muscles from working to leave your mouth open. Its ability to stop your mouth from closing enables the dentist to perform the filling task quicker and more effectively.
Eliminate Tooth Decay
Your dentist will begin by removing tooth decay using a number of tools. The dentist may begin using a drill to remove the decay from your teeth. You won't feel any pain because of the local anaesthetic. The dentist will also use a suction to remove debris and saliva from your mouth. Finally, your dentist may also use hand tools to refine the filling area and to remove remaining tooth decay.
Getting the Filling
Your dentist will finally fill the tooth with a resin filling to make it look like the real thing, while allowing you to perform tasks like chewing and speaking normally. You can choose between porcelain, silver amalgam and composite resin fillings. Composite resins are generally recommended because they look closest to real teeth without compromising on functionality.
Knowing the steps a dentist follows for filling your teeth will help you better prepare for the procedure. Contact a local dentistry to learn more.
Share18 April 2016
Miranda Raff here. My brother is a stressed-out dental student, so I'm starting this blog on his behalf. I work in a travel agency and my brother is mortified by the number of dental tourism stories I bring home. I book short holidays for people who seem as though they are going to enjoy some relaxation in an exotic country, only to learn that they plan to have cheap dental procedures. Whilst there are good dentists in developing countries, according to my brother, the complex procedures these people plan to have simply can't be finished in such a limited time. This blog is an attempt to inform you about the high skill levels and advanced technology found in Australian dental surgeries. New techniques are being developed every year and Australian dentists are at the forefront of offering these solutions. I really hope this blog helps you to appreciate our dentists.
