A paste feeder for moving paste from a paste cartridge to a cavity in a patient's mouth is described. The paste feeder has a paste cartridge for holding a paste and a paste channel defining a cavity for holding the paste cartridge. The paste feeder also has a paste feeder tube, operatively connected between the paste channel and a dispensing tip. A ratcheting device of the paste feeder operatively connects to a plunger. The plunger moves the paste from the paste cartridge through the paste feeder tube to the dispensing tip in controlled incremental amounts.