A quick overview of a filling appointment at Heidi Sprowls DDS

At a dental filling appointment, you can expect us to place topical anesthetic and to numb the affected tooth with local anesthetic, remove the decayed portion using a drill, clean the area, then fill the cavity with a dental filling material, which will be hardened with a special light if needed, and finally polish the tooth to smooth any rough edges; your mouth will likely remain numb for a few hours after the procedure. Sensitivity afterwards can be normal, but should be quick and only for a limited amount of time.

Time to expect for appointment:

1 Filling: 1 hour - 1 1/2 hours

2 Fillings: 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours

3 Fillings: 2 hours - 2 1/2 hours

More than 3 fillings in one appoint, reach out to our business team to get an expected time.

What to expect after a filling:

Numbness: Your mouth will likely remain numb for a few hours after the procedure.

Sensitivity: You may experience some temporary sensitivity to pressure and hot and cold foods and drinks, but this should be quick sensitivity.

Things to let us know about: Does your bite feel off once numbing wears off? We may ask you to bite down to check the filling's alignment and make adjustments if needed. Pain waking you up or coming out of the blue, let us know this is not normal.

Key steps during a dental filling appointment:

Numbing: We will apply a topical anesthetic gel to the area and then inject a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding gums.

Decay removal: Once numb, the dentist will use a drill to remove the decayed portion of the tooth.

Tooth preparation: Heidi Sprowls DDS may further shape the tooth to ensure proper fit for the filling.

Filling placement: One of our EFDAs will apply the filling material to the prepared cavity.

Curing: For certain filling materials (white/composite), a special light will be used to harden the filling.

Polishing: We will smooth and polish the filling to match the surrounding teeth.