Surgery and Healing in the Developing World - Dartmouth-Hitchcock

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236 Surgery and Healing in the Developing World
Figure 4. Basic dental instruments.
Filling Material
Some types are available as a paste and require no preparation. An example of a
material you can mix yourself is zinc oxide and oil of cloves. On a clean glass surface
mix the powder into the liquid with a spatula until a thick dough like consistency is
achieved.
Prepare the tooth by cleaning out the hole with a dental excavator (Fig. 4). Try to
make the base of the carie wider than the tip to prevent the filling from falling out.
Keep the tooth as dry as possible while inserting the filling. Pack the space between
the tooth and the cheek with a cotton wood pad. For the lower teeth also put cotton
wood between the tooth and the tongue. Hold the pads in place with one hand
while drying the cavity with more cotton wool. Pack the filling material into the
cavity using a small flat bladed instrument. Make sure the cavity is will filled and
firmly packed down, trim any excess. Remove the cotton wool and ask the patient to
bite down firmly on their teeth. Temporary fillings will dissolve slowly over time,
but they can last for up to several months.