If your children have never had to get a tooth filling, they may be feeling understandably apprehensive about the process. At Pediatric Dental Group in Honolulu and Lihue, Hawaii, our compassionate dental care professionals want your children to feel as comfortable and as cared for as possible.

When your children come in for their first filling, what should your family expect? First, it’s important to let them know that this process will keep them healthy, preventing the tooth from further decay. Second, assure them that this process may be uncomfortable, but not painful.

You, the parent, will then speak to our caring pediatric dentists at Pediatric Dental Group about filling material options. Here, you will learn about gold fillings, ceramic fillings, and more. Once you’ve chosen a filling material, the process can begin.

• First Step, Anesthesia: Your pediatric dentist will numb your children’s mouths using local anesthesia. This step will keep your children from feeling an unbearable amount of pain.
• Second Step, Drilling: Using a special drill, air abrasion instrument, or laser, your pediatric dentist will remove the decayed tissue. Your children’s specific cavities will determine what instrument will be used.
• Third Step, Cleaning & Filling: Here, your pediatric dentist will clean out any debris and fill the cavity. For deep cavities, the dentist may protect the tooth nerve by placing a liner over the cavity.
• Fourth Step, Polishing: Lastly, your dentist will clean and polish the filling and tooth. After this step, you and your children are free to go!

After your children’s first fillings, they may experience minor pain and sensitivity in the filled tooth and surrounding teeth, but this is normal. Also, your children’s lips and gums may feel numb, but this will ease up in a few hours. If numbness lasts for more than a few hours, or if teeth/gum sensitivity persists for longer than a few weeks, the pediatric dentists at Pediatric Dental Group will be able to help access and heal the problem.

When it comes to the dental hygiene of your children, fillings can be scary, but they don’t have to be. The dentistry professionals at Pediatric Dental Group are here to serve your family with compassion.

To learn more about all of the services Pediatric Dental Group offers, visit us online. To schedule an appointment, call (808) 593-8828 for the Honolulu office or (808) 245-2131 for the Lihue office.