To treat a cavity, the dentist will remove decay from the teeth and fill the area on the teeth from where the decayed material was removed. How do I know I have a cavity? Here: Initially there will be feeling of mild sensitivity when eating foods like sweets and will progress into prolonged sensitivity to slight pain while chewing. If this is left untreated, it will make the teeth sensitive to certain foods or may cause constant pain that lasts for several hours. So, if you do not want cavities than don’t skip out on getting your teeth cleaned and filled.
Here the cost of a cavity cleaning and filling can vary depending on various factors such as the size and location of the cavity and the type of filling materials used. On average, the cost of cavity cleaning and filling cost can range from NPR 1000 to NPR 3000.
How long does it take to clean and fill cavities?
Basic cleaning and filling can typically be completed in one visit where procedures take 30 to 60 minutes depending on your dentist. Here, the dentist will numb the area around the tooth with local anaesthesia, remove the decay, clean the area and lastly fill the cavity with the filling material (composite, GIC). However, for more complex fillings such as that involving multiple cavities or require root canal treatment (RCT) may take longer and multiple visits. Additionally, if the tooth requires a crown or other type of restoration, may take several weeks for the restoration to be completed.
Does cleaning remove cavities?
Once a cavity has formed, it can only be removed by drilling and filling the hole with a filling material. Cleaning helps to remove plaque and tartar which can reduce the risk of cavities forming. But cleaning cannot remove the existing cavities. However, to remove a cavity, the dentist will drill out the decayed portion of the tooth and fill it with a filling material. Thus, regular cleaning is important to prevent cavities.
Do filling permanently fix cavities?
The filling is a common treatment for cavities and can effectively restore the function of a damaged tooth. However, the fillings will not permanently fixed cavities. The length of a filling depends on several factors such as size, location and type of filling materials used, the oral hygiene and the biting force on that tooth.
Though several factors affect the filling, the types of material used can give you an idea of how long a particular filling last.
Amalgam filling: These fillings are made of metal alloy. An average duration of amalgam filling lasts for 15 years.
Composite filling: These fillings are tooth colored that can lasts for 7 years. They also repair chipped teeth and fill in small gaps between teeth.
Gold filling: They are more durable. And also more expensive than amalgam and composite filling. Gold filling lasts an average of 20 years or more.
Ceramic filling: It is filling that are made with a type of porcelain. It may lasts for 15 years or more.
Glass ionomers: They are made up of a combination of acrylic and glass particles. Typically, it lasts about 5 years.
Remember that these are average life expectancies of the type of filling. You can extend the life of your fillings by practicing healthy oral hygiene and also taking good care of your teeth.