How Do Dental Fillings Work?

A dental cavity breaks through a tooth’s enamel surface and will likely enlarge if you do not close it with a filling material. Your dental professional numbs the affected tooth before drilling around or into the cavity to prepare it. The dentist will then put a filling material into the cavity while it is still soft and harden it using a curing light until it dries up. You might feel pressure or pain when receiving the numbing injection before the drilling. Fillings are durable once placed. However, they will require replacement should they wear down or break.