Fillings

When someone has a cavity this is treated by removing the infected part of the tooth (decay) and replacing it with a restorative material (filling).
Additionally, fillings can be used to repair broken teeth and teeth that have been worn down from improper function (ie grinding).

When a tooth needs a filling, the steps involved are as follows:

We begin by freezing the area to be worked on by using local anaesthetic (ie Lidocaine).
Next, the decayed portion of the tooth is removed using a handpiece (drill) and other instruments.
If the decay was near the nerve we may first put in a liner that functions to insulate the nerve thus decreasing the chance of post-operative sensitivity.
The filling material (most frequently composite resin, white) is placed into the tooth in increments and light cured which causes the material to harden into the shape we have created.
Once the filling has been placed, it needs to be contoured and refined and polished. The bite is checked and adjusted if need be.
Once the freezing wears off the patient has a functional filling that can be used to eat immediately.