Now the mouth preparation begins. Since the area for the filling needs to be isolated, the dentist may cover the nearby teeth with a rubber dam—this is a piece of latex that keeps the rest of the teeth dry while the tooth to be filled gets wet.
Another device the dentist may use is called a bite block, which props the mouth open during longer procedures.
The dentist now gets to work removing decay from the tooth. The tooth may be modified in order to fully accept the filling and resist breakage. Then the filling itself, usually either a silver amalgam or tooth-colored composite, will be placed in the decayed area.
If the decay happened between teeth, the dentist places what’s called a matrix band around the tooth for extra support. Also in this case, a wedge is inserted so the completed filling and the tooth closest to it can act together to seal off food particles and prevent further decay.
Talk to our Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist for more about dental fillings.