A cavity is a hole in a tooth made by acid from plaque bacteria. It does not heal once the surface has broken. Tooth decay treatment means removing the softened, infected part of the tooth and restoring the shape with a filling, so decay stops spreading and the tooth can chew normally again.
Timing matters more than anything else. A cavity caught early is a small filling. The same decay left until it reaches the nerve becomes a filling or a root canal decision, and later a crown or extraction. To see what a cavity looks like and how it advances, read what a cavity in teeth looks like, and for dark marks you are unsure about, black spots on teeth.
For a teeth filling, the choice of material depends on the size and position of the cavity and how hard the tooth is bitten on. Options are explained in types of dental fillings.
When tooth fillings is the right treatment
- A visible hole, dark pit or rough patch on a tooth
- Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold food that settles quickly
- Food that keeps packing between the same two teeth
- A broken, cracked or worn filling that has a gap or rough edge
- Decay found on an X-ray before it has caused any pain
- A cavity in a child's milk tooth
What the treatment involves
- 1
Examination and X-ray
A mirror and probe examination, plus an X-ray where needed, shows how deep the decay is and how close it is to the nerve. That distance decides whether a filling is enough. Prevention afterwards is covered in how to stop tooth decay.
- 2
Numbing
Local anaesthetic is used so the tooth and the gum around it are numb before any decay is removed. Very small cavities are sometimes treated without it, by agreement with the patient.
- 3
Removing the decay
The softened, infected tooth is cleaned out and the edges are shaped so the filling can bond or seat securely. Healthy tooth is kept wherever possible.
- 4
Placing the filling
The filling material is placed, shaped to your bite and polished. Composite is set with a light in layers, and the bite is checked so the filling is not high. Material options are in types of dental fillings.
- 5
Aftercare
Avoid chewing on the numb side until feeling returns. Mild sensitivity for a few days to weeks is common. Pain that is increasing, lingers, or wakes you at night should be reviewed.
Cost
A filling costs more or less depending on the size of the cavity and the material used. An X-ray is often needed first.
See tooth filling cost in Lucknow →Questions patients ask
Questions patients ask about fillings and tooth decay
- How do I stop tooth decay?
- Filling or root canal: which do I need?
- What does a cavity in teeth look like, and what happens if it is left?
- Are black spots on teeth cavities?
- Which type of filling is best?
- What is a temporary filling, and how long does it last?
- Is replacing silver fillings worth it?
- What should I do if a filling falls out?
- Why is my tooth sensitive after a filling?
- What causes tooth enamel erosion, and can enamel grow back?
- What is amalgam, and is a silver filling safe?
- What is the teeth filling process, and is it painful?
- What are hypoplastic teeth (enamel hypoplasia)?
- What is the full form of DMFT in dentistry?
- Tooth Filling Cost in Lucknow
Tooth Fillings: common questions
Does a teeth filling hurt?
The tooth and gum are numbed with local anaesthetic before decay is removed, so the procedure is generally comfortable. You may feel pressure and vibration. Mild sensitivity can follow for a few days. Tell your dentist if you feel any sharpness during treatment so more anaesthetic can be given.
How long does a filling take?
A small to medium filling is usually completed in one visit of roughly half an hour to an hour, depending on the tooth and the size of the cavity. Larger cavities, or ones that need an inlay, take longer or an extra appointment.
Can a cavity be treated without a filling?
Only at the earliest white-spot stage, where the enamel surface is still intact. Fluoride, fewer sugar exposures and better cleaning can rebuild the mineral. Once the surface has broken and there is a hole, a filling is the treatment. See what a cavity looks like for the stages.
When is a filling not enough?
When decay has reached the nerve, a root canal is usually needed, and when so much tooth is lost that the walls would fracture, a crown is the sounder option. An X-ray decides this, not how the tooth looks from outside.
Are fillings done for children's milk teeth?
Yes. Milk tooth cavities are treated rather than left, because decay can cause pain and infection and affect the adult tooth underneath. Material choice is made for the child's age and cooperation. Children's care is covered on the kids dentistry page.
About this page
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination. For questions about your own case, call +91 83036 12717.