The Process Of Filling A Cavity

Do you need to get your first cavity filled by a dentist, but you're a bit nervous because you do not know what to expect? Here is what will happen during your dentist appointment.

Apply A Local Anesthetic 

The first step will be to apply local anesthesia to the area where you will have the cavity filled. It is common to apply a topical anesthetic to your gum tissue so that you do not feel the pinch of the needle as it goes into your gum tissue. Then your dentist will use Novocaine to make your tooth numb so that you do not feel any of the work that is being done on your tooth. You'll rinse out your mouth with water to get rid of any taste in your mouth from the anesthetic, and then you'll have to wait for a short amount of time for the Novocaine to kick in.

Remove Decay

There are several ways that the dentist can remove decay from your tooth, but the most common method is with a drill. There is a high speed drill that sprays while the dentist is drilling, which will be used in tandem with a suction device to remove water from your mouth. There is also a low-speed drill that does not spray water while it is being used. 

Prepare For The Filling

Once the decay has been removed from the tooth, your dentist will start the preparation for the filling. This is done by placing etch on your tooth, which is an acid gel that is blue in color and used to make the enamel on the surface of your tooth a bit rough. The etch is then rinsed off and suctioned away so that they can prepare for the next step.

Apply The Composite Filling

A composite filling will go on in layers, which starts with a bonding agent that is brushed onto the surface of the tooth. An adhesive is then applied and cured with light to harden the material. The composite tooth-colored filling can then be applied to the tooth, and the dentist will pack the composite material into the hole so that it matches the shape of a natural tooth. The material is then cured with light so that it hardens. The surface will then be polished so that it is nice and shiny, which will match all of the surrounding teeth. 


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