GENERAL CARE
Cavity Treatment
The earlier a cavity is found, the smaller the treatment needs to be. Depending on how far it has progressed we work up in stages from composite fillings to inlays and crowns, and we determine precisely whether root canal treatment is required before going only as far as necessary.
The sooner a cavity is treated, the better
When the pain from a decayed tooth comes and goes rather than staying constant, it is easy to dismiss it and put off treatment. But decay left untreated can lead to inflammation, or allow bacteria to reach the nerve so that root canal treatment becomes necessary. In the worst cases the tooth cannot be saved at all and has to be extracted and replaced with an implant.
Early decay: enamel caries
Decay has reached only the enamel, the outermost layer of the tooth. There is no pain, and treatment may be a simple composite filling — or simply regular monitoring to see whether it progresses.
Moderate decay: dentine caries
Decay has reached the dentine beneath the enamel, and you may feel pain with hot or cold food, or when chewing. An inlay (or onlay) is usually needed, or a crown if the affected area is large.
Advanced decay: pulpitis
Bacteria have infected the nerve inside the tooth, causing severe pain and sometimes forming an abscess at the root tip. Root canal treatment followed by a crown is required; if root canal treatment is not feasible, extraction may be necessary.
Types of cavity treatment
Inlay / onlay
An inlay is used for a relatively small area of decay, and an onlay where the affected area is larger.
Ceramic inlay
Made to match the colour of natural teeth, this suits larger or more visible areas of decay, and is a good option if you would rather not have existing amalgam or gold restorations on show.
Gold inlay
Suited to larger cavities and to molars that take heavy chewing forces. Gold is biocompatible, resists corrosion, and has strength and hardness similar to natural tooth.
You can find more on inlay and crown materials, along with actual before-and-after photographs, on the prosthetic treatment page.
These are actual cases treated at our clinic. Results vary from person to person, and side effects may occur.
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