Estimates suggest that over 2 billion people across the world suffer from dental caries and cavities. This includes over 500 million children, mostly in lower and middle-income countries. But cavities are also a huge problem in the United States.
When you go to see a dentist for a cavity, they often tell you that you are going to need dental fillings. But what exactly does this mean?
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about cavity treatment and dental filling procedures.
What Is a Dental Filling?
When you go to see your dentist about potential dental cavities, there’s a good chance that you are experiencing significant pain. Many patients report that it’s difficult to eat and chew food and even talk correctly.
Dental filling procedures allow patients to resolve the problem of dental decay when it has started to penetrate into the tooth enamel.
A cavity filling procedure helps to put a dental filling into the cavity created within the tooth. The filling is created from a strong and robust material to help prevent further damage to the tooth. When you have a dental filling placed, you also increase the overall structural scaffold of the tooth.
How Does a Filling Work?
Fillings are designed with special materials that stick to areas of dental decay and fill the space. This way no more debris from food or bacteria can continue to penetrate the tooth and make your symptoms worse.
What Is the Procedure Like?
Recent changes in how dentists perform dental filling procedures have made the experience much better and less painful for patients. Dentists will typically provide you with an anesthetic that can even be needle-free if desired.
They will clean your teeth and help to remove the existing decay. After cleaning out the cavity, they will insert the special filling material into the cavity and shape it so that it matches the natural anatomy of your tooth.
Some dentists will use lasers to help address some of the problems from cavities and even whiten teeth.
This can be used to target special tooth decay with high accuracy. You will not feel pain as your dentist will already have you anesthetized.
How Long Does the Procedure Take to Fill the Cavity?
Overall, you will likely be in the chair for less than an hour. It may take some time to allow the anesthetic to start working, but the amount of time that the dentist needs to work inside your mouth is far less than an hour. Of course, if you have multiple cavities, this could take longer.
You should also plan a little bit of extra time to check into the office, and also review x-rays with your dentist or ask any questions.
What Are the Different Types of Dental Fillings?
Patients may choose one of several standard options for tooth fillings. These include amalgam, composite, ceramic, metal, and glass ionomer fillings.
There are different advantages to each of these types of fillings. They also come with varying costs.
Overall, amalgam and composite resin fillings are the most common for cavity treatment.
Will the Cavity Filling Process Hurt?
The process of filling a cavity should not cause pain. You will be pain-free during the procedure because your dentist will use a local anesthetic.
Because of the manipulation of a sensitive nerve ending even if it is anesthetized, you may have some sensitivity after the procedure. Most patients report that this is very minimal.
If you do have sensitivity after the procedure, it will likely be resolved within a few hours.
However, if you continue to have pain days after the procedure, you should return to your dentist for inspection. This is because ongoing pain could be a sign that you have an oral infection.
How Much Will It Cost to Have My Cavity Filled?
As mentioned above, the cost will vary depending on the type of material used. Even though you may want to save cost upfront, the cheapest material that dentists can use may not be the most cost-effective option over a longer period. This is because you may need to return to the dentist if the cheaper material falls out.
Composite resin is usually one of the cheaper options but likely will not last as long as more expensive materials like ceramic filling.
Overall, many dentists recommend amalgam fillings as the best value in terms of durability to cost ratios.
Using an amalgam filling will cost less than $150 per tooth. In comparison, gold or ceramic fillings may cost all the way up to $1000 per tooth.
How Long Will My Filling Last?
Amalgam fillings are considered a great option because they typically last for at least 10 years before they need to be replaced. However, it is not unheard of for amalgam fillings to last for 15 years or even two decades.
Gold and silver fillings will also last approximately 10 to 15 years.
However, resin fillings may only last for five years.
Ceramic fillings are a premium option and can be expected to last more than 15 years, and this benefit is built into the cost of the filling.
The Best Providers for Dental Fillings in Katy, TX
At the end of the day, cavities are a common problem that can be very painful for patients. Fortunately, dental fillings are a great cost-effective option that reduces pain for the vast majority of cases. There are many options available depending on your budget and long-term goals.
If you are looking for a dentist in the Katy, TX area, look no further. At Katy Gentle Dentists, we aim to provide you with excellent, compassionate care when you come to our office for a filling. Please contact us today if you would like to set up an appointment with one of our providers.