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Dental cavity, also known as caries or tooth decay is a damage caused to the hard tooth structure by bacteria in the tooth. There is a progressive breakdown of tissue and dental caries appear as holes in teeth. Caries may also appear as a soft decayed area in a tooth, which, if allowed to progress can lead to the death of a tooth. Although a tooth, like bones in your body is also made of calcium and phosphorus, unlike a fractured bone, a destroyed tooth structure does not regenerate on its own. The basic reason behind this is that concentration of calcium and phosphorus is much higher in teeth than it is in bones. Re-mineralization of teeth having small carious lesions is possible with optimal levels of oral hygiene but not a sure cure for dental caries. Small lesions are sometime cured by topical application of fluoride but large lesions have to be filled up to stop progression of dental caries and to save the affected tooth. A dentist uses a dental drill to remove decayed material from the tooth. If the decay in the dentin has reached the pulp, the dentist uses a dental spoon to remove decayed material. Once the decay has been removed the ‘hole’ in the tooth is filled up relevant substances keeping in mind the aesthetics and to restore functionality. While there are different materials available for filling dental caries the major goal of treatment is to prevent further decay of the tooth structure.

Restorative materials for filling dental cavities include amalgam (an alloy of mercury, usually with silver), composite resin (a type of synthetic resin), porcelain and gold. To meet the aesthetic conditions the most frequently used material is composite resin as it can be easily made to correspond with the color of natural teeth.

It is of particular significance that teeth cavities are detected in their early stages. If treated in early stages cavity filling is less painful and also cheaper than filling extensive decay. There may be a need of local anesthetics in some cases to alleviate pain during treatment and also to relieve anxiety.

Diagnosis of tooth cavities involves physical inspection. A dentist has different ways and means to detect damage to teeth. For this purpose she/he employs a good light source, dental mirrors and explorer. A dental x-ray may be necessary to arrive at the extent of damage whether the decay is superficial in the enamel or have traveled deep down.

Caries occur due to excessive acid formation as result of irregular and improper brushing, failure to floss your teeth and poor oral hygiene coupled with excessive intake of sugary snacks. There is no reason that a dental cavity should occur if you take good care of your teeth and maintain proper oral hygiene.