Once the dentist has cleaned the tooth and other adjoining areas to remove any bacteria, he will then use a filling to fill in the hole. The filling can be made from materials such as gold, silver, porcelain, amalgam, tooth-coloured plastic or resin. The choice of filling will depend on where the damaged tooth is, how severe it is, your budget as well as your dentist’s preference. Once the filling has been put into place, it will be cleaned and polished.

The process does not take longer than 15 minutes unless the cavity has caused major damaged and you can begin eating as soon as the anaesthesia wears off, although it is wise not to use that side for a few days. Some tooth sensitivity should be expected in the first few days, especially if you are eating extremely cold or hot foods. You can avoid fillings by making regular appointments with your dentists so that he can help you identify and treat cavities early.