Going to the dentist’s office was one of my scariest moments while growing up, hearing the words “you have a cavity” drew a cold chill down my spine. Will he tear open my mouth? What tools will be used on me? The fear and anxiety filled me up, I hoped and looked for any other alternative than going to the dentist’s office. While I was pondering on my options, I met a friend who helped calm my nerves by telling me all I needed to know about cavity filling, putting my mind at ease. If you are like me, and you’re scared of dental tools, don’t think you’re alone, dental fear is very common. Research shows that dental anxiety is usually caused by scary-looking dental tools. Many people avoid visiting the dentist due to this anxiety, causing a deterioration in their dental health. I believe that getting the proper information about cavity filling and its procedure will greatly put your mind at ease as it did mine. Hence, in today’s post, I’ll be explaining how cavity filling is carried out and the tools required for it. Learning this will greatly take away the anxiety and fear you may have.

What is a dental cavity?

Before we go into the tools needed for cavity filling, it is essential that you know what a dental cavity means, in other to fully understand why you need a cavity filling.

A dental cavity which can also be called tooth decay is a hole that is formed in your tooth due to the actions of bacteria, destroying a part of the tooth. A cavity usually starts small and if left untreated can become very large Leading to total damage of the tooth and possibly bloodstream infection.

Do I really need a filling to fix a Dental Cavity?

A dental cavity can cause you to have tooth sensitivity. That feeling of not being able to take something hot, cold, or sweet, and it’s just the beginning if you don’t get that tooth fixed. As the cavity progresses deeper, it exposes the inner nerves of the tooth, hence, compromising the tooth’s structural integrity. When a dental cavity is left unchecked it can lead to infection and inflammation. 

Do you want to get that dental cavity fixed? Then you need to visit a dentist. The dentist will help remove the decay to prevent further progression of the decay. After successful removal of the decay, a filling will be required to cover the hole left in your tooth. The dental fillings will prevent any bacteria or plaque from building up inside the cavity, they also reinforce the tooth to strengthen it and keep it from chipping or cracking. I strongly advise you to visit a dentist and get your cavities taken care of, immediately you discover tooth decay to prevent further damage to your tooth.

What tools and procedures are required for dental filling? 

The dental filling procedures carried out by the dentist involves the removal of the decay inside the cavity using a drill. Are you scared of the drill? There’s no need to be, the first action taken by the dentist is to apply a local anesthetic to help numb the tooth, so you won’t feel a thing when other procedures are being carried out. The dental drill is used to remove the decay from your tooth, a suction device is used to remove water and debris making the area clean. Once the tooth is clean, it will then be filled with a composite resin that will take the form of the cavity with time. UV light is used to harden the composite resin after its application on each layer.

Finally, after applying the resins on several layers, the cavity will be filled and restored to look like your natural tooth. A polisher is used to apply final touches.

There are different kinds of filling available, depending on your preference, these dental fillings include:

• Amalgam
• Composite resin
• Glass ionomer
• Gold
• Porcelain
• Plastic