In 1875, Greene Vardiman Black, an American born medical doctor, first illustrated a controlled approach to treating cavities. His revolutionary techniques are still applied today by dentists all over the globe, predominantly for the placement of silvery fillings. Dr. Black encouraged eliminating the decomposed part of the tooth, and extending the cavity to include certain grooves and other features prone to decay. This course of action, also recognized as “extension for prevention” is well-thought-out and practical, because it provides the restored tooth with some defense from further decay in the future. It is sad but true that most cavities uncovered during a dental inspection will need to be treated.
As a general rule, a cavity necessitates treatment when it has broken through the enamel and into the primary dentin. Premature tooth cavities that have not penetrated to the dentin, or have experienced only light cavitation need not necessarily be treated, as these could possibly be restored or re-mineralized with the aid of fluoride.
The dentist removes the rotten portion of the tooth, and reconstructs the lost tooth structure with a filling substance. Typically by injecting the patient with local anesthetic, xylocaine, in most circumstances, the dentist starts this treatment procedure. Once the tooth is isolated from the rest of the mouth, in most cases a high-speed dental drilling tool is required to remove the decay and prepare the tooth for the filling.
The good dentist will prepare the tooth cavity appropriately, based on which material is being used to fill it. To reduce tooth sensitivity a liner is often used after the tooth has been prepared. A compound known as Dycal, comprising calcium hydroxide, is utilized in deep cavities to stimulate the Dentin to reinforce and to protect the dental pulp. In some cases, where the fillings are deep, a base is also applied in supplement to the liner. Glass ionomer and zinc phosphate cements are common bases used when it comes to dental fillings.
The main function of the base is to shield the tooth from temperature fluctuations in the mouth. For the dentist and patient, there are numerous different materials to choose from when it comes to filling the tooth. The most common are silver (amalgam), porcelain, white (resin) or gold. To conclude the process of remodeling the tooth, these materials are applied on top of the base material to fill the cavity and restore the shape of the tooth back to normal.
It is not uncommon for the tooth to be irritable for a day or two,] after a tooth has gone through this filling procedure. The sensitivity, particularly to cold food or drinks, is more likely to be prolonged if the filling is quite deep. Within two weeks, nevertheless, most fillings should be totally comfortable. In certain scenarios, a second appointment is needed to shave down the filling to a comfortable level, if the filling is built up too high. A vacuum under the filling may trigger the sensitivity to last more than two weeks. Long-drawn-out discomfort may also point toward a tooth that has a bacteria -ridden pulp, which necessitates root canal treatment.
Contact a dentist or dental hygienist at Water Brook Dental in Washington DC for a dental check-up and other dental needs. Water Brook Dental has two locations in Washington DC. The Columbia Heights location is very conveniently located to Downtown DC, Northeast DC, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, U-Street Corridor, Mount Pleasant and many other parts of Washington. The Eastern Ave NW location is conveniently located to Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park MD, Silver Spring MD, Colesville, and other parts of Maryland as well as Northern Virginia and other parts of Virginia.
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