Filling is the best way to treat cavities and protect your tooth from further damage and infection. If you have pain in your tooth and suspect a cavity, schedule an appointment now at Broadway Family Dental for professional guidance to prevent your cavities from progressing into a more serious dental condition. Dr. Ella Dekhtyar has the knowledge and experience to safely treat your cavity and restore your oral health without causing any pain. She uses the most advanced dental equipment and innovative tools that provide pain-free treatments and ensure you have a healthy, attractive smile when you leave her office.
Cavities are decayed areas in teeth, which appear as tiny holes on the surface of the tooth. They are caused by acids emitted from bacteria called plaque that cling to your teeth and feed on food debris left in your mouth after meals. When dealing with tooth decay, filling is a simple solution usually advised by dentists.
Despite its benefits, going through a filling procedure can cause anxiety for many people, and they delay visiting a dentist, afraid of the pain they will experience. However, most of this fear stems from a lack of knowledge and what is unknown to the patient. The process has been refined and nearly perfected, which makes it a non-invasive experience with swift recovery time and no pain.
Read on to find out if getting a cavity filled hurts and what you can expect during this dental procedure.
What You Should Know about Dental Fillings?
Even with an excellent at-home oral hygiene routine, regular dental cleanings and exams, you may get a cavity. Fillings are recommended to reduce the pain caused by cavities and to eliminate the possibility of serious infection. They replace the section of the tooth damaged by decay.
Tooth fillings restore the integrity, strength, health, and functionality of the tooth, as well as prevent bacteria from re-entering the area. If left untreated, a cavity can reach the tooth’s pulp, causing intense pain.
Dental fillings can help prevent the following dental conditions from getting worse:
- Tooth decay or cavities
- Cracked tooth
- Worn down teeth due to bruxism
- Problems with previous dental work
Untreated cavities can also lead to the need for more invasive procedures, such as root canals and extractions. When you go for a filling, the dentist removes existing tooth decay and restores the tooth to its natural shape, making your mouth healthier and more comfortable.
The dentist will discuss what you can expect and how extensive the procedure will be, considering your tooth condition.
Some factors that can affect your filling procedure include:
- Size and depth of the cavity
- Location of the cavity
- Number of cavities
Regardless of its size, depth, and location, a cavity should be filled as soon as possible to prevent further decay.
Do Cavity Fillings Hurt?
No. Most fillings are painless and do not cause any discomfort during any part of the process. It is mainly because your dentist will use a highly effective numbing agent to ensure a pain-free experience.
You may feel a bit of a sting, but it is a reaction from the local anesthetic when it starts to block the nerve signals to stop the pain.
Numbing the Pain
Dentists typically use a local anesthetic such as lidocaine, benzocaine, or epinephrine to numb your tooth, jaw, and gum before starting the procedure. Numbing agents work to eliminate or reduce pain and discomfort.
They stop nerves from sending pain signals from your mouth to your brain so it does not hurt when the dentist begins to drill. You may feel slight discomfort that feels like a slight sting, but it is a sign that the anesthetic is effective.
Talk to your dentist about the numbing agent they plan to use and if it would work best for you. Also, let them know if you are allergic to any type of anesthetic.
Pain and Recovery Tips
The recovery time for regular filling is only a couple of days. During this time, you may experience some mild pain and discomfort or sensitivity. It is caused by the nerve adjusting to the new filling in your tooth. Soreness or tenderness in your gums and jaw for a few days is also common, especially when you brush or floss your teeth. All these effects are mild and should not disturb your normal routines.
However, if you feel significant pain or notice swelling or pus, call your dentist immediately. It may be a sign of infection and need additional treatment, such as a root canal.
You can keep away pain and sensitivity by following these simple tips:
Avoid Extremely Hot and Cold Foods and Drinks
Your tooth is feeling particularly sensitive after it has been through minor drilling. The best thing to do at this time is to give it a rest and avoid consuming too hot and cold foods and liquids. During your recovery, stick to room temperature water and food that is not too hot, and your tooth will be back to normal in a few couple.
Go for a Soft Diet
Soft foods are the best for avoiding pressure on your affected tooth. Give the treated side of your mouth a break from clenching or grinding your teeth. It is better to eat soft foods during this brief recovery time. Chips, raw vegetables, and other foods that take a lot of chewing or stick to the corners of the mouth may irritate your tooth or even damage the new filling.
Do Not Irritate Your Filling
It might seem odd, but many people end up tonguing or aggressively licking teeth with their tongue and sucking the affected tooth in reaction to the soreness and pain their experience. This practice only causes more discomfort and irritation. If your teeth continue to hurt for more than a week, or the pain becomes unbearable, it may be a sign of infection or some other complication.
Fillings Are the Best Solution – Painless and Convenient
Tooth decay and cavities are common dental issues, especially among children, teenagers, and older adults. If the cavities are not filled and go untreated, the decay can become severe and reach the nerve within the bone, causing unbearable pain. If the cavity continues to grow and reaches the gum, this too can cause intense pain and even infection, killing the tooth.
At this point, root canal and extraction are the only options that can provide relief. The amount of time, money, and pain involved in these procedures is far greater than a filling. Getting a cavity filled may seem stressful, but it does not cause pain. While small surface cavities can be filled in less than 30 minutes with little or no discomfort, deeper cavities near a tooth’s pulp may take longer, but they are still better than the alternatives.
Treating oral health issues and filling cavities does not have to be a fear-inducing experience. There are several options for the type of filling used and the anesthesia the dentist will administer to make the procedure pain-free. A filling is always the best option with minimal side effects and long-lasting benefits.
Tooth fillings are not as painful as most patients expect them to be. At Broadway Family Dental, Dr. Ella Dekhtyar and her dedicated team take care of all your dental needs most compassionately. They examine your teeth and gums carefully, look for cavities, and offer sedation services to alleviate your dental anxiety before beginning any dental work. Dr. Dekhtyar understands your fears regarding pain and ensures comfort at every step of the way. She restores your tooth with a dental filling to eliminate the uneasiness you have been feeling due to the cavity and helps you get back to your work and normal life within no time.
Broadway Family Dental
1152 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11221
(Bushwick, Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant)
(718) 455-4400