What does it mean to have the dentist excavate and evaluate a tooth?
I hаνе a dentist appointment tomorrow аnd thеу tοld mе іt’s аn hour long appointment аnd thеу hаνе tο excavate аnd evaluate mу bottom molar. Whаt dοеѕ thіѕ mean? I hаνе really bаd anxiety аt thе dentist ѕο I аm јυѕt trying tο prepare myself fοr whats going tο bе going οn. Cаn anyone hеlр mе figure thіѕ out??
Don’t let this frighten you. Excavation can be a general term for cleaning the tooth prior to examination – removing tartar and plaque, that sort of thing. If this is a follow-up, it may mean they found a cavity and must remove (excavate) the decay before filling. By the fact that you said excavate and evaluate, I’m guessing this is a first visit and you expressed concern about the molar. So they are going to clean it and examine it and take it from there.
The best thing you can do is call your dentist’s office back and ask them exactly what they mean. It will go a long way in helping you mentally prepare for the visit.
When a dentist excavates a tooth, he is removing decay. If the decay is deep, then it is time for and evaluation. This evaluation is to see what course of action to take. This means that the possibility of a root canal or and extraction or a sedative filling or an ordinary filling are treatment options. The dentist is the one to call this, that is why they go to school as long as they do. This is all done under local anesthetic. Just relax and keep your mouth open wide.
DDS 34 yrs