What Are Injection-Free Fillings for Cavities?

Many people’s fears of dental visits are because of injections. Luckily, dentists have the expertise to complete dental filling procedures without injections, thanks to injection-free fillings. 

What Are Injection-Free Fillings?

Injection-free fillings for cavities are dental fillings that are fixed on the teeth without the need for injections. It is the non-invasive practice of repairing and filling tooth cavities without numbing the tooth using injections.

Much of this is because of the advances in dental methods, hi-tech expertise, and modern dental practices. The result is that many dentists can perform dental fillings without using any injections.

Types of Injection-Free Filling Procedures

Injection-free filling procedures have become available in dental health over the past decade. These treatments make a difference to the oral wellness and treatment experience of people with tooth cavities.

The procedures include the following.

 

• Air Abrasion Fillings

Air abrasion is a tooth-filling treatment that does not use injections or drills to restore decayed teeth. Dentists use the procedure to treat early signs of decay on teeth. Air abrasion works by spraying away cavities. The treatment device focuses a steady flow of fine particles to the decayed areas of the tooth. 

The particles are made from aluminum oxide, silica, or a mixture of baking soda. The dentist then sucks away the decayed areas of the tooth through a tiny tube. Air abrasion decreases the need for local anesthesia, especially if the cavity is not deep.

 

• Icon Tooth-Filling Treatment

The icon tooth-filling treatment is also a painless procedure that does not use drills or needles. The procedure works to remove tooth decay early before a more invasive cavity filling procedure or root canals become necessary.

This innovative procedure fills and restores damaged enamels. However, the treatment may not work for decay that has gone too deep below the enamel, and that is why it is vital to catch cavities early.

 

• Dental Lasers

There are also no injections or drills with laser treatment. Dental lasers use light energy to detect tooth decay, remove the decay, and prepare the enamel to receive the filling. It is a painless process that also lowers the risk of infection and pain after the treatment.

However, lasers cannot work on teeth that already have fillings, damaged dental crowns or bridges, or decay between teeth. 

When Will You Need an Injection for a Filling?

As mentioned, you may not always need an injection for a filling. Getting an injection hinges on how big and how deep the decay or cavity is and where the decay sits with regards to the nerve. 

Usually, cavities or tooth decays that affect only the enamel do not cause sensitivities, thus do not need numbing. But if the decay goes down deeper under the enamel and into the nerves, the repair will require an injection to numb the tooth so the decay can be removed.

To learn more about what injection-free fillings for cavities are, visit Concierge Smile Boutique at our office in Culver City, California. You can also call (424) 404-6400 to schedule an appointment today.