How many fillings can a dentist do in one appointment?

Even if a patient has a high pain tolerance, they may not be able to get all their fillings done in one appointment. Typically, a dentist will fill up to 3 to 4 cavities at a time, but the number of fillings possible ultimately depends on the location and size of the cavity and the time it takes.

Cavity Location

How many cavities a dentist can fill at once is affected by where the cavities are located. If multiple cavities are spread throughout the mouth, a dentist may avoid numbing the whole mouth and only work on one side. If the cavities are near each other, a dentist is more likely to fill them all in one appointment. 

Cavity Size

Whether the cavities are big or small can affect the number of fillings available at one appointment. Smaller cavities are often filled faster than larger cavities. A dentist might perform multiple small fillings in one sitting. However, a large cavity might take as long as a few small cavities, so the dentist might only perform one big filling at an appointment.

Time

Fixing cavities can be uncomfortable and can take a while, especially if they are larger. A dentist might take a few appointments to complete all fillings to avoid discomfort, jaw pain, and headaches caused by lengthy procedures.

Conclusion

The number of fillings for one appointment often depends on how comfortable the patient is and how many cavities they want filled. Filling more than 3 cavities in an appointment is not recommended as the mouth needs sufficient time to heal.

It is important to fill cavities as soon as possible before they worsen and cause other issues in the mouth. Call Perry Dental today to get your cavities filled!