Tag Archives: dental anxiety

Dental Fillings – Different Types and What to Expect During Your Procedure

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Dental fillings are a type of restorative dentistry treatment used by dentists to repair cavities or fix minor chips and cracks in your teeth. Other names for dental fillings include:

  • Tooth fillings
  • Cavity fillings
  • Dental restorations – this term refers to treatments that restore teeth, such as fillings, inlays, onlays, bridges, and crowns

Your dentist will discuss treatment options to determine which type of dental filling is better for your situation.

There are many different types of dental fillings and they fall into one of two categories: direct or indirect.

Direct fillings are created by dentists and placed in your mouth without the need for a dental laboratory or temporary restoration. They only require one office visit.

Common materials for direct fillings include:

  • Amalgam
  • Resin composite
  • Glass ionomer

Indirect fillings are made by a dental technician in a lab before your dentist places them in your mouth. Most indirect fillings require two office visits, one to take dental impressions and another to put your restoration. If your dentist uses computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing or CAD/CAM technology, they may be able to create and place your indirect filling in a single appointment.

Inlays and onlays are two common indirect fillings that dentists use when a tooth has too much damage to support a filling but not enough damage for a dental crown. An inlay or onlay fits into your tooth structure like a tiny puzzle piece.

Common materials for indirect fillings include:

  • Gold
  • Porcelain

During the dental filling procedure, your dentist will:

  1. Numb your tooth with local anesthesia
  2. Remove damaged or decayed tissue from your tooth using specialized instruments
  3. Fill the hole with dental filling material
  4. Use a dental curing light to harden the material (only for resin composite)
  5. Polish and smooth any rough edges
  6. Check your bite to make sure it feels normal

The exact steps may vary depending on the material your dentist uses and what type of filling they place.

If you have anxiety about visiting the dentist, ask about sedation options. Sedation dentistry helps keep you calm and comfortable during your procedure.

If your teeth need a check-up, you can make an appointment with one of our board-certified dentists at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Dental Center by calling 718-206-6980.

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All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Jamaica Hospital Offers Dental Sedation To Help Patients With “Dental Anxiety”

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It is estimated that 10% – 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist due to anxiety or fear. The source of “dental anxiety” may be due to a previous traumatic event or it could be fear of pain or injections. Regardless of the reason, this delay in care can often lead to further complications including increased tooth decay which can lead to tooth loss. 

For those with anxiety caused by going to the dentist Jamaica Hospital Medical Center offers mild to moderate dental sedation for a variety of procedures including tooth extractions.  The service is offered to most adult and pediatric patients. 

Patients who are interested in receiving dental sedation first need to schedule a pre-operative consultation. During the consultation providers will determine if sedation is appropriate.  A customized anesthesia plan will be made for each patient. While sedation is safe for most, patients with a history of asthma, certain cardio-vascular disease or who are obese may not be eligible.

On the day of the appointment, the team will review the procedure and anesthesia plan with the patient and family. The IV anesthesia is administered by a trained oral surgeon and dental hygienist. After the injection, the patient will enter a “twilight” or light state of sedation.  The patient’s heart, blood pressure and a pulse are monitored during the entire procedure to ensure patient safety. Most procedures last between 30-45 minutes. At the conclusion of the procedure, patients are released to a previously identified escort over 18 years of age.

Jamaica Hospital’s Department of Dentistry has been offering this safe service since July of 2019.  The hospital’s team of qualified oral surgeons and dental anesthesiologists have a great deal of experience with dental sedation, performing approximately 20 procedures for children and adults every month.

Patients at Jamaica Hospital’s Dental Center are very appreciative for this service as it has helped them overcome their fear of going to the dentist.

If you would like to learn more about dental sedation service at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-6980 to schedule an initial consultation.

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All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.