Does getting small cavities filled hurt?!


Question: Does getting small cavities filled hurt?
I think I have three in all.... two on one bottom tooth, and I think one on the top....
They're so small! I never noticed them before.. just really really small black dots?
I heard people say something that the Novocaine dentists can give can possibly cause cancer? o_O
And that having silver fillings is bad?
Anyone got an advice on what to do? I want to be able to tell my dentist what I want done. =/
**One other thing, They don't hurt really at all. Sometimes though when i bite down too hard on the side with the two on my bottom tooth, it can hurt, but that's it. the top one... I'm not sure if it is, but I brush and it doesn't come off lol. But I also heard that THEY ABSOLUTELY need to be taken care of as soon as possible or else risk like, infections or something.
First time w/ cavities... kinda creeped out. I've had teeth pulled before... bad experiences... Hurt so bad. :(

Answers:

I am sure you are nervous about having local anesthetic and dental work performed for the first time. First of all it is not Novocaine that is used. There are many different injectable anesthetics used but novocaine was an older anesthetic with a chemistry that caused more reactions than the newer injectables used today. We use Lidocaine in our office and we no longer place silver amalgam fillings. There are durable composites made for the chewing forces of the molar and bicuspid teeth. Silver fillings contain mercury which when mixed is bound to the metals in the dry components but removing them re-releases mercury back into our environment which is not a good thing. Taking care of these "small" cavities now when you are not experiencing pain means less trauma to the teeth. If you wait until you have pain, this could allow the decay to advance closer to the nerve of the tooth and if it infects the nerve then you will need to have endodontic treatment to save the tooth. Better known as root canal therapy. Get them taken care of now and you will have little to no discomfort. Sandra RDH




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