Dental fillings can last anywhere from twenty minutes to one hour, depending on the size and severity of the cavity. If you have multiple dental issues that need to be resolved using a filling, your dentist may recommend treating all the issues in one session.
Your filling appointment will begin with your dentist applying a numbing gel to the gums to prepare it for an injection of local anesthesia. Once injected, the tooth and the surrounding tissue will go numb.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, your dentist will begin cleaning out the decayed and damaged tooth material. Though you may feel a bit of pressure or vibrating this should not be painful.
The newly cleaned-out hole will then be sterilized with a fluoride solution to prevent further decay.
Next, materials such as gauze or cotton wedges will be packed around the tooth to isolate the area and protect the surrounding teeth from the filling material.
Your dentist will then use specialized tools to pack the filling material into the cavity.
Depending on the type of filling material chosen, a UV light may be used to cure the material.
The filling will be smoothed and shaped to preserve your bite and ensure there aren’t any sharp edges.