If you are scheduled for a cavity filling, your dental professional will need to remove the tooth's damaged area before starting the procedure. Generally, they would use a drill, which may be painful for some people.
Cavities filled without the drill
Small cavities are manageable now without drilling away the tooth structure, thanks to resin infiltration, a technique to fill cavities at an early stage.
Since not all small cavities will progress into larger, more harmful forms of decay, there are less-invasive treatments that don't require drilling or filings.
Some types of fillings require drilling deep into the tooth to create enough space for implantation. Heavy drilling can weaken teeth, making them more likely to break, chip, or develop future cavities. Composite fillings only need light drilling to be installed.
Although you can get fillings without a numbing injection, your dentist will explain the difference between treatment with local anesthesia and treatment without it. Medium-sized cavities may take some work to remove the decay, and they may become uncomfortable for you.
Usually, cavities or tooth decays that affect only the enamel do not cause sensitivities, thus do not need numbing. But if the decay goes down deeper under the enamel and into the nerves, the repair will require an injection to numb the tooth so the decay can be removed.
Sometimes the filling can come close to the nerve ending and cause some irritation. However, as the tooth heals, the throbbing pain and sensitivity will slowly go away. The dentist needs to make sure that the filling is in line with other teeth in the mouth.
Patients usually describe feeling a pin prick or pinch at this time. The anesthetic takes effect quickly and the patient's mouth will be numb during the filling procedure. Today's numbing medicines are so effective that most fillings cause little to no pain. Taking advantage of modern technology.
Once the numbing agent kicks in and the patient is unable to feel anything, the dentist will drill out the decayed parts of the tooth - otherwise known as the cavity. The drill will ensure that no damage is left on the tooth and that it is all removed efficiently so that the filling can be placed.
In addition, you can prefer to have indirect fillings made from composite resin or porcelain called inlays that are incredibly durable and will remain in your tooth for over 10 to 20 years with proper care.
Once you have more filling material than natural tooth material your tooth no longer holds enough strength. In this instance, you might need an inlay, onlay, or dental crown to protect your tooth. You might also need a restoration instead of filling replacement if your tooth has several fillings in the same tooth.
Technically, there is no limit to the number of filling you can get in one session. However, dentists do not recommend having more than three fillings at a time.
Cavities are decayed areas of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. The three types of cavities are shown here. Smooth surface cavities occur on the smooth sides of your teeth, while root cavities develop on the surface over the roots. Pit and fissure cavities occur on the chewing surface of your teeth.
Frank Medina, otherwise known as the "King of Windmills," has never had a cavity in his life. That would not be so unusual, except that he is 94 years old. Ripley's Believe it or Not calls him the “oldest man in the world with all his teeth who has never had a cavity."
Unfortunately, even with a filling in place, your tooth is still susceptible to developing decay underneath the filling. This is known as recurrent decay, and while it might not be as common as primary decay, it can still cause a lot of problems for your smile.
In minor cases, cavities can be treated with fillings, but a root canal might be necessary in more severe cases. Unfortunately, due to their similarities and mutual hard-to-reach locations, it can be difficult to assess whether a filling or root canal is required initially.
Your dentist will use a local anesthetic (such as lidocaine, benzocaine or epinephrine) that will numb your tooth, gum and jaw. These agents will stop nerves from sending any pain signals from your mouth to your brain so it doesn't hurt when the dentist starts to drill.
Inlays and onlays are forms of tooth decay treatment that work well when a tooth has too much damage for a filling but isn't at the point where it requires a crown. A dental lab custom makes inlays or onlays for your particular teeth.
During a filling you are unlikely to feel a thing. A filling does not happen in areas of the tooth where there are nerves, so you shouldn't feel any more pain from the procedure than you would feel from cutting your hair.
As part of the process for fitting dental implants, holes are drilled into the jaw, and if the dentist mistakenly drills too far, this could result in nerve damage. Another way that this procedure can cause nerve damage is if the implant itself is longer than it should be, so presses on the tooth nerve once in place.
Traditional dentistry encourages drilling well beyond the infection or decay in almost all situations. This leads to a weaker tooth structure that cracks and fractures much easier. By avoiding the drill whenever possible, teeth stay healthier and stronger. This also leads to less sensitivity and pain.
This is because the dental drill has penetrated through the layers of the tooth, closer to the tooth's nerve – which is usually protected by the outer layers of the tooth. This can be irritating, and can cause some inflammation in the nerve (totally normal).
If you have undergone a deep filling and are experiencing pain, it may be that the filling has reached a nerve and has irritated it. The nerve should heal itself, but if pain or sensitivity does not subside within two to four weeks, dental intervention may be required.
A tooth should not hurt, ache, or cause you discomfort from a new filling for an extended period of time. Any sensitivity from a tooth filling should be expected to go away quickly, at least within two to four weeks.
Once a tooth is extracted, you may need stitches and will experience a dull ache for a few days. You will also need to avoid certain foods which may irritate the extraction site. With a filling, there should be no discomfort and you will be able to eat your regular diet as soon as the numbing agent wears off.