When you think of getting a cavity filled, odds are good that you consider it a fairly easy, simple procedure. You just go in and the dentist slaps a bit of amalgam on your tooth, and that’s it, right? Wrong! It is a common misconception that filling a cavity is easy as filling a pothole in the road, but that is not actually the case. It may surprise you, but having a cavity filled is actually a type of dental surgery.
Fillings-More Complex than They Appear
Although cavity-filling surgery is not quite as complex as heart surgery, it is still a surgical procedure on hard tissue in the body. The process involves several surgical-related steps, including:
- X-rays
As with any dental surgery, the first step is finding out what exactly is going on and what steps need to be taken to correct it. Before proceeding with any dental care, your dentist will take a series of x-rays to determine what you need.
- Anesthesia
The amount of anesthesia needed to fix a tooth is not as much as is needed to operate on the body, but any anesthesia administration requires extensive knowledge and an understanding of how to deliver the medication safely.
- Drilling
Before your dentist can fill the cavity, first he or she has to drill out the decayed parts. This calls for a steady hand and understanding of how to safely remove dead tissue without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.
- Filling
Administering either amalgam or composite fillings is a precise undertaking that involves more than just spreading some paste and moving on. Fillings must be applied carefully to avoid mistakes and to ensure that they properly fill the cavity.
In addition to filling cavities, dentists also perform complex tasks such as making crowns, performing root canals, and tooth extractions, which is all far more complex than just “fixing teeth”. As with any doctor, dentists effectively treat diagnosable medical diseases.
Pain-free & Cosmetic Fillings in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Have a question for Dr. Kenneth J. Wolnik about becoming a fillings or about your oral health? Please contact Dr. Kennth J. Wolnik online or at:
Address
6363 York Rd, Ste 202
Parma Heights, OH 44130
Phone
(440) 888-5055
(440) 888-5055
Email
[email protected]
Office Hours
Monday: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Friday: 7:30am – 1:00pm