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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Archives for November 2021

Never Had a Cavity. How Does a Dentist Fill a Tooth?

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I never had a cavity in my life. Now I have 2! At least that’s what my dentist says. I admit I am a little skeptical because I’ve only had two appointments with this dentist, and I am seriously thinking about getting a second opinion. Dentists’ offices make me a little nervous, so can you tell me the steps of getting a tooth filled? Thanks, Samuel from Omaha

Samuel –

If you are skeptical about whether you have cavities, it is best to get a second opinion.

But if you need fillings, a gentle dentist can make filling a cavity a quick, pain-free process.

How Does a Dentist Fill a Tooth?

Molar teeth with composite fillings

A cosmetic dentist makes composite fillings look natural

A dentist fills a tooth by cleaning it, removing the decay, and cleaning it again. Below are typical steps that a dentist will use for a direct composite filling:

  1. Apply topical anesthetic to the injection site
  2. Numb your tooth and the area around it with a local anesthetic
  3. Your dentist may use a bite block to keep your mouth open. Insert a small rubber dam in your mouth to isolate your tooth. This will prevent your jaw muscles from tiring out while you try to keep your mouth open.
  4. Use a tool (drill, laser, or air abrasion) to remove the decay from your tooth quickly. You will not feel anything because your tooth will be numb. A dental assistant will work with your dentist and use a suctioning device to remove the debris from your mouth.
  5. Use an air/water unit to clean your tooth.
  6. Use a liner to protect the tooth nerve—mainly if the decay is close to a tooth nerve.
  7. Use a blue gel to create tiny holes in the tooth, to which dental composite will bond. Your dentist will remove the gel.
  8. Apply a bonding agent to the tooth and spread a preselected shade of dental composite over it
  9. Shape the composite and harden it with a curing light
  10. Check your bite to ensure the filling is not too high or too low
  11. If your bite (the way your teeth fit together when you bite or chew) is correct, smooth and polish the composite. Otherwise, your dentist will make further adjustments to ensure that your filling aligns with your bite.

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Root Canal After Veneers

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I need a root canal after wearing veneers for 12 years. My left upper incisor is infected, so my dentist referred me to an endodontist. A root canal is my only option. My veneers look new, so I am concerned about my tooth turning dark after the root canal or losing the veneer altogether. Also, I got the veneers when I lived in Texas, but now I live in NJ. Although my dentist takes good care of my veneers, I haven’t seen any of her veneers’ cases, so I don’t know if I have confidence in her if I need a new veneer. Am I at risk of losing it? – Thank you. Linda from New Haven, CT

 

Linda,

It is unusual to need root canal treatment for a porcelain veneer tooth. But if a dentist aggressively prepared your tooth veneers and removed the enamel, the tooth is at greater risk for stress and decay.

How to Prevent a Root Canal from Darkening Your Veneer

Root canal after veneers can darken a tooth. But during treatment, your dentist can minimize the effects. After your endodontist performs your root canal treatment, they can preserve your tooth color with these steps:

  • Clean out root canal filling material from the portion of your tooth above the gumline
  • Place a flexible fiberglass post into the tooth root
  • Fill the space with a light shade of dental composite

Since leftover filling and cement darkening after root canal treatment usually causes darkening, the above steps will help. Cleaning out your crown can prevent your tooth from darkening for five to ten years. And your porcelain veneer can prolong the good results.

Will Root Canal Treatment Ruin Your Veneer?

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

A securely bonded veneer should stay intact during root canal treatment

Root canal treatment should not ruin your veneer. A dentist will access your tooth from the biting surface—not the front of a tooth where your veneer is located. If the dentist who placed your veneers bonded them securely, your veneer would stay in place during root canal treatment.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD sponsors this post. Dr. Szarek is an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts.