What exactly is a “filling” anyway?
This actually is not a question I get frequently, but I thought I would touch on it briefly due to how common the procedure is. There always seems to be a lot of confusion regarding “fillings” and what exactly they are. A “filling” is simply this: When a tooth has a cavity, chip or fracture, the void or space remaining gets filled in with some type of body-friendly material. This process is known as, “having a filling done.” There are many types of filling materials out there but they fall into two general categories. Those are “silver” (amalgam) fillings and tooth-colored (composite) fillings, each with their own indications for use. Your dentist will likely choose the material to “fill” the tooth with based on the location of the filling and the reason the filling is being placed. Your dentist may also call a “filling” a “restoration”, which is just a fancy way of saying the same thing.
As discussed earlier, fillings can be placed in both adult and baby teeth. The procedure for placement in either type of tooth is very similar, but typically baby teeth are unable to retain larger fillings due to their different dental anatomy. In most cases, the tooth receiving the filling requires being numb in order to avoid pain during the procedure.
However, there are many times when anesthesia can be avoided. If the cavity or fracture to be filled is small, the procedure is usually not felt. Most of the time the dentist can just look at the size of the cavity and be able to tell if anesthesia is needed. So, try not to let your eyes bug out of your head if your dentist suggests doing the procedure on you or your child without getting numb! It is perfectly acceptable and often much more comfortable than having to deal with a droopy lip for three hours! That being said, please let your dentist know if you are in pain. There are no points given for bravery!
Tags: Adult, Amalgam Fillings, Anesthesia, Baby Teeth, Bravery, Cavity, Composite Fillings, Confusion, Dental Anatomy, Dentist, Filling Materials, Fracture, Lot, Reason, Tooth Filling