Common Misconceptions About Dental Fillings

Going to the dentist has never been on anyone’s fun to-do list, and dental fillings have always been associated with needles and pain, and in today’s world, those ideas can not be further from the truth. 

The medical world has changed dramatically over the years, and going to the dentist is nothing now compared to what it was. No one should be afraid to go to the dentist today.

They are painful

This statement is absolutely false! A dental filling is not uncomfortable at all. When you go to the dentist for a filling, the first thing the dentist will do is numb the area around the tooth. This step ensures the tooth and all of the nearby tissues are entirely numb. The dentist will check to be sure your tooth is numb and then get started. 

During the filling, if you feel any pain, alert your dentist, and he will immediately stop and get a more numbing anesthetic for the area. Feeling pain is not a usual occurrence after the initial numbing. It would be best if you did not have any fears at all. 

Many patients complain the worst part of getting a dental filling is the inability to feel your mouth in the area where it was numbed afterward. 

Fillings are noticeable

This statement may have been true many years ago, but no more. Fillings in the past were made of metal, and of course, when you put silver metal into your tooth, it will be noticeable. 

Today, dental fillings are made from porcelain or a white composite of different artificial substances. Once the filling is placed in your tooth, the dentist will polish the composite and harden the filling with a light, and you will not be able to tell there is anything in the tooth.

Your cavity is too small for a filling

Many patients sometimes say they don’t know why their dentist recommended a filling when their cavity was small. If you think about the facts and what fillings do, and why they are needed, you should want a filling right away. 

If a small cavity is found, it needs to be taken care of right away. If a small cavity is left untreated, the decay will only grow and cause more damage and even tooth loss. You want to get a small cavity filled right away, and be thankful your dentist found it so soon and took action. 

Ways to keep your mouth healthy

Every six months, you go to the dentist for your regular cleaning. Hopefully, between those visits, you are doing everything possible to keep your oral health on point. Even if you have the best oral cleaning, you could still end up with a cavity now and then. 

Be thankful to your dentist if he finds a cavity, get it filled right away, and put the dental myths behind you. Dental fillings can save your teeth!

Request an appointment here: https://www.keepsmilingdentalpc.com or call Keep Smiling Dental PC at (908) 425-4051 for an appointment in our Belleville office.