Tooth Filling in Cincinnati, OH
Cavities can be upsetting and painful, but with help from an experienced dentist in Cincinnati, you can get the help you need to take care of your teeth! Most of the time when a person has a cavity, a standard filling will take care of the problem. At Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry, we help patients eliminate decayed tooth material and prevent further decay with composite filling materials.
What to Expect When You Get a Filling
Tooth cavity filling is a common procedure that many patients need at one time or another. Typical tooth cavity fillings take about an hour. This includes any time spent cleaning your teeth, inserting the filling and discussing the filling either before or after the filling is inserted.
Pain Management
Before inserting a filling into your mouth, your dentist will render your gums, teeth and adjoining skin numb to ensure your comfort during the cavity filling process.
To do this, your dentist will rub a substance into the teeth and the surrounding area. Once this happens, then your dentist will inject you with an anesthetic that will further desensitize the area.
Rubber Dam
Sometimes dentists use a device called a rubber dam to make it easier to access the tooth. Rubber dams stop tooth chips from getting into the mouth and going down the throat, and can stop liquid from going down the throat as well. Rubber dams are not always needed for cavity filling.
Rid the Mouth of Decay
Once the rubber dam is in place and the pain management is taking effect, your dentist will get rid of the decay on your teeth. Your dentist will use a drill, laser or air abrasion tool. You won’t feel a thing because the numbing agent applied to your gums, teeth and cheek will help keep you comfortable. You can sit back, relax and let your thoughts drift throughout this portion of the filling.
The Filling Itself
Once the decayed material is in place, your dentist will put a filling material in place in the hole in your tooth. This part is important. If a hole remained in your tooth, bacteria would become trapped in it and you would develop another cavity in a quick period.
Once the filling is in place, your dentist will file the material so you can chew comfortably. Once this is done, you’ll still feel numbness in your mouth. You should not chew or eat anything hot during this time because you could accidentally cause an injury to yourself.
Once the operation is over, your tooth may be extra sensitive to hot and cold temperatures for a while after the procedure. This is normal! The sensitivity should wear off after a while.
Signs You Have a Cavity
You may have a cavity if you experience:
- Pain when you bite down
- A hole in your tooth
- Tooth sensitivity
- Staining on your teeth (particularly brown or black staining)
Who Is At Risk
You may be at risk for a cavity if you:
- Have dry mouth
- You are younger or older
- You frequently snack
- You don’t brush your teeth properly or frequently enough
Contact Your Dentist for Tooth Cavity Filling in Cincinnati
People have been getting tooth cavity fillings for decades. This tried and true dental technology helps people maintain healthy teeth. Cavity fillings are important for ensuring that your tooth can recover from dental decay. If you believe that you need a cavity filling, contact your dentist at Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry.