What happens when you get a filling?

No one wants to hear that they have a cavity. For kids (and parents), “cavity” sounds like a death sentence, and “filling” signifies a long, painful, and expensive procedure. Luckily, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In most cases, cavities require only a short, pain-free appointment to our office in Cary, North Carolina.During a cavity filling, our dentists administer a local anesthetic to numb the affected area. They then use a small drill to remove the decay from the tooth and kill any existing bacteria. Once the tooth is ready, the dentist places the filling.At Stanley Dentistry, we typically use a composite resin material for the filling. Composite fillings are tooth-colored and look just like natural teeth. During the procedure, one of our dentists will place the composite (which looks like a paste) into the cleaned cavity. The composite will naturally take on the shape of the cavity as the dentist places it. After the cavity is filled, the dentist will use an ultraviolet light to “cure” (or harden) the composite. Post-op, your dentist will ask you to bite down to make sure the cavity hasn’t affected your natural bite.