Fillings

Dental Fillings

Dentist In Richlands — Dentist Checking the Teeth in Richlands, NC

Dr. O’Brien will treat cavities by adding a filling. This is a simple a quick process to restore the integrity of the tooth. A filling can also be used to repair a cracked or broken tooth from injury or from teeth that have been worn down from things like nail biting or people who grind their teeth. You may not know you are in need of a filling at all if the tooth is not causing pain or sensitivity. This is why dental check-ups are so important.

What to expect

The process to fill a tooth will depend on how large the area is and how deep the cavity goes. If the tooth is causing pain or the area is beyond the surface level you may need local anesthetic to numb the area during the process. Once the area is numb you will no longer feel any pain or sensitivity during the filling. The dentist will use an instrument to remove the decayed area and then the space is filled with a material to protect the nerve and regain the original shape of the tooth.