What To Expect During And After A Dental Filling
Dentists remove decay and put dental fillings in teeth every single day. This is the most common procedure they do, and it is done so that people can save and protect their teeth. If you have never had a filling, here are several things you should expect during and after the procedure.
You Will Need Anesthesia During the Process
To get a filling, the dentist will begin by numbing your mouth, so you do not feel anything during the process. Next, the dentist will drill the decay out of the tooth and replace it with a filling. This process usually does not take long, but it will leave your mouth feeling numb for several hours. When the numbness wears off, you may feel a little bit of pain on or around the tooth, but this typically goes away within a day or two.
You May Feel Sensitivity with Your Tooth
You can begin using the tooth as soon as the numbing wears off; however, you may notice that this tooth is very sensitive to hot and cold things. If you notice this, don't be alarmed. This is completely normal, and the sensitivity will wear off over time. Within a couple of weeks, you should no longer feel any type of sensitivity with the tooth. If you do, you may want to visit your dentist to find out if this is normal. You may also want to avoid eating foods that are really sticky or hard for a while, just to help prevent the filling from coming loose right away.
You Should Talk to Your Dentist If You Have a Gap That Is Too Large
One of the hardest parts of putting a filling in a tooth is making sure it is in there perfectly. If the filling is too large, it may rub against other teeth. A filling that is too large might also prevent you from being able to floss on the sides of the tooth. The other thing to watch out for is a food trap. If the filling is just slightly too small, it may leave a gap between the tooth next to it, and this gap could create a food trap. A food trap typically occurs when a gap is too large between two teeth. This gap causes food to get trapped inside, and that is why dentists call it a food trap.
Dental fillings protect teeth and help them last longer. If you need a dental filling, contact a clinic like Lake Pleasant Dentistry today to set up an appointment to meet with a dentist.
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