When it comes to visiting a dentist in Buford, many patients worry about the number of cavities that they may have that need fillings. Cavities are often caused by poor oral health or improper brushing and flossing, which can lead to growth of bacteria causing tooth decay. Once a cavity forms, it is important that the damage is attended to by a dentist. Patients who need many fillings done may wonder how many teeth a dentist can fill in one appointment. The answer can vary for a number of reasons.
Since the mouth of each patient is different and the state of oral health can differ, there is no one answer to how many teeth a dentist can fill at once. There are a few factors that can affect how many teeth a dentist can fill in one sitting:
If the cavities are spread out in different places in the mouth, the dentist may choose to only work on one side of the mouth and schedule a further appointment for making fillings in the other side of the mouth. This is due to the potential discomfort the patient may experience from having the mouth totally numbed during the process of drilling and filling. Many patients prefer having only part of the mouth numbed, so these is less inconvenience than if the entire mouth were totally numb. When the cavities are in adjoining teeth or teeth that are near each other, it is often easier for the dentist to fill several cavities in the same appointment.
The more cavities that a patient has, the longer the process of filling take. This can lead to jaw aches and headaches in the patient from sitting for a long period of time with the mouth open. Therefore, a dentist may choose to spread fillings out over multiple appointments to keep the patient comfortable and in a good mood. Impatience and pain should occur infrequently when visiting a dentist, so a patient who chooses a more comfortable schedule for fillings can have a better experience.
Cavities can range in size and shape, and smaller cavities can generally be filled more quickly than larger ones. If a patient has many tiny cavities, the dentist may be able to fill more of them in a single appointment. In some cases, a dentist could take the same amount of time to fill a single large cavity as it would take to fill several tiny cavities. The condition of each patient is different, however.
A dentist in Buford can suggest a schedule for cavity filling that takes into account the particular cavities, the pain tolerance of the patient and the experience of the dental team. Patients should discuss with their dentist the recommended number of fillings at a time for their situation. Request an appointment here: https://buforddentist.com or call North Atlanta Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry at (770) 932-1115 for an appointment in our Buford office.
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