Dental visits are fearsome for many people without the thought of getting cavities filled comfortably. People can express fear when they are informed by their dentist they must have a cavity filled. Most dental filling procedures cause little or no discomfort during the filling process. However, some dental fillings can hurt. People avoiding dental visits even for routine checkups over concerns about discomfort are suggested to continue reading this article outlining the procedure for filling cavities. We intend to educate you realistically on what to expect in terms of pain and discomfort during this routine procedure.
What Are the Determinants for Pain During Dental Fillings?
When dentists detect a cavity in your tooth, they recommend you get cavity fillings right away to prevent the condition from progressing. Fillings are helpful to reduce pain caused by cavities and eliminate the possibility of a severe infection. If left untreated, the bacteria in the cavity can reach the tooth’s pulp to cause intense pain. Untreated cavities are the primary reasons why people need invasive procedures like root canals and dental extractions.
When you accede to the filling treatment, the dentist removes the prevalent tooth decay and restores the tooth back to its natural shape. In addition, the treatment makes your mouth healthier and comfortable because you no longer experience pain from the cavity. Your dentist will discuss the treatment with you telling you what to expect and how extensive the procedure is likely to be. There are several determinants to the pain you may experience during the filling process. Given below are some elements that can affect the filling procedure.
The Scope of the Waste and Size of the Hole
Tooth decay advances starting out with white spots caused by minimal mineral loss from your tooth enamel. Preventing tooth decay is possible with proper dental hygiene and professional fluoride treatment. However, if your tooth enamel continues to weaken, cavities develop, requiring a filling.
The dentist applies a numbing gel to your gums before delivering local anesthesia. The numbing gel merely numbs your gums to ensure you don’t experience any discomfort while receiving the anesthetic injection.
After you receive local anesthesia and your mouth is entirely numb, the dentist begins drilling your tooth to remove the pollution from within. If the cavity in your tooth is deep and located near the tooth’s nerve endings, you will likely find the process painful.
Location of Your Cavity
Tooth decay can cause different types of cavities. For your information, there are three types that you may have in your tooth. They are:
- Smooth surface cavities forming on the sides of the mouth.
- Pit and fissure cavities occurring on the biting surfaces of your molars.
- Root cavities forming near the tooth’s root.
Tiny root cavities are simple to treat if detected early. These holes commonly occur if you have gum disease-causing your gums to recede and expose the soft root surface.
The Number of Cavities
Sometimes you may have multiple cavities located in one area of your mouth, and your dentist may recommend filling them in a single appointment. However, filling multiple holes is likely to cause discomfort during the procedure because more time is needed requiring you to sit with your mouth open for prolonged periods. In such cases, you may also require additional anesthesia for the extended procedure.
How Much Time Do Dental Fillings Require?
Tiny fillings require about 20 to 30 minutes per tooth to complete. However, deeper cavities or multiple holes in one area need longer. However, your dentist administers adequate anesthesia near the affected tooth after applying numbing gel to your gums before proceeding with the procedure.
The tooth decay within is removed by drilling the tooth and sensitizing the cavity after decay removal is complete. After placing the filler, the dentist examines your bite to assure it is even and finishes the tooth.
What Happens If You Ignore the Dentist’s Recommendation for Cavity Fillings?
You undoubtedly have your freedom of choice to ignore the dentist’s recommendation to get dental fillings when holes are detected in your tooth. However, the resultant effects can leave you with a weakened tooth that can turn into a cracked tooth when you exert any pressure on it when chewing or biting, an extensively infected tooth requiring expensive treatments like root canals and a dental crown, or even tooth extractions needing replacements with artificial teeth. Compared to the costly treatments, dental fillings are a comfortable and affordable procedure causing minimal discomfort on rare occasions but helping save your natural tooth.