A cavity is decay that has softened part of the tooth. Caught early, it is repaired in a single visit with a tooth-coloured filling. Left alone, it grows towards the nerve and becomes a root canal or an extraction.
You might need this if…
- Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold
- Food catching in the same spot
- A dark spot or hole you can see or feel
- A broken or worn old filling
How it’s done
- 1
Find it
We confirm the size and depth of the cavity by examination and, if needed, a digital X-ray.
- 2
Numb it
Local anaesthesia for anything beyond a very shallow cavity, so you feel pressure but not pain.
- 3
Clean it
The decayed part is removed and the healthy tooth is kept.
- 4
Rebuild it
Composite resin is placed in layers, hardened with a curing light, then shaped and polished to your bite.
Afterwards
- Avoid chewing on the numb side until feeling returns, to protect your cheek and tongue.
- Mild sensitivity for a few days is common; tell us if it lasts beyond two weeks.
- If the bite feels high, come back. A two-minute adjustment fixes it.
Questions patients ask
Composite fillings commonly last many years. How long depends on the size of the filling, your bite, grinding habits and how well the tooth is cleaned.
Not automatically. If an old filling is intact and there is no decay around it, it can stay. We replace fillings that are cracked, leaking or have decay underneath.
Composite fillings are hardened immediately, so you can eat once the numbness wears off.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. We will advise you properly after an examination.
