Cavity Treatment

Cavity treatment or dental filling is the most common method of dental treatment. After the dentist has checked the extent of the damage, the patient is given anaesthesia (if desired), and the dentist removes the damaged tooth tissue and/or old filling and shapes a new cavity. First, base filling is inserted into the cavity, followed by full filling, and the filling is refined and polished for the final result.

Anaesthetic injections can be used to prevent or relieve any pain during the cavity treatment. Anaesthetic effect usually starts in a few minutes and lasts from one hour up to a few hours. Anaesthesia with an aerosol means applying a (10%) lidocaine aerosol or ointment (gel) to the surface of the mucous membrane. This is always used before administering an injectable solution to children. Sometimes this anaesthetic can also be used to relieve pain during the tartar removal procedure. The effect starts in about 10 minutes and lasts up to 30 minutes.

Seven different surfaces/sides are distinguished on each tooth (chewing surface, cheek- and lip-facing surface, front and back contacting surfaces between teeth, tongue and palate-facing surface, tooth neck surface, and tooth root surface). The dentist removes the defective tissue with a drill and makes a cavity with the size and shape corresponding to the defect. This cavity is filled with a filling, wherein the physio-chemical properties of the light-curable composite filling material affecting its ability to attach to the tooth tissues are taken into account.

Sometimes the acute progression of the inflammation makes it impossible to close the tooth with a permanent filling during the first visit. In that case, an antibacterial or disinfecting agent is inserted into the tooth cavity or tooth root canal and the shaped cavity is closed off with a temporary filling until the next visit. Temporary filling differs from a permanent one in its consistency and durability, and it is meant for temporary sealing of a cavity. Next, a time for the next visit is agreed upon to finish the cavity treatment and filling procedure.