Cavities & Fillings

Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health conditions. Modern restorative dentistry offers advanced, minimally invasive treatment methods designed to remove damaged tooth tissue, restore the tooth’s natural shape and function, and protect it from further complications.

Stages and locations of dental caries

Treatment methods depend on the depth and extent of the carious lesion. Based on the tooth tissues affected, three main stages can be distinguished:

• Early-stage caries: affects only the enamel and typically appears as a white or brown spot, usually without any discomfort.
• Moderate caries: affects the enamel and dentin and requires removal of the decayed tissue followed by appropriate treatment of the affected area.
• Deep caries: characterized by an extensive lesion and inflammation of the dental pulp, often causing frequent or persistent pain in response to stimuli.

Based on their anatomical location on the tooth crown, caries can be classified as fissure caries (in the grooves and pits of the teeth), interproximal caries (on the surfaces between adjacent teeth), and cervical caries (near the gumline).

Causes and consequences of untreated tooth decay

The main risk factors for tooth decay include inadequate oral hygiene, a weakened immune system, and deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Delaying treatment can allow the infection to spread to the dental pulp (pulpitis), causing severe pain, increasing the risk of affecting neighboring teeth, and potentially leading to tooth loss.

Treatment methods and types of restorations

Treatment involves removing the affected tissue, administering local anesthesia when necessary, and restoring the tooth’s structure with an appropriate filling material selected according to the functional and mechanical demands of the tooth.

Local anesthesia for pain-free treatment

The use of local anesthesia ensures complete comfort and a pain-free experience during the removal of decayed tissue and preparation of the cavity.

Treatment with composite resin (tooth-colored filling material)

Modern composite resins are applied in small increments and cured using blue light, helping to minimize polymerization shrinkage. They are biocompatible, wear-resistant, and available in a wide range of shades, allowing for excellent color matching and natural anatomical integration with the tooth.

Aesthetic restoration of a front tooth

A specialized aesthetic restoration for visible front teeth, using a layered application of different composite resin shades to recreate the natural optical properties, translucency, and anatomy of the enamel.

Removal of decayed tissue and temporary filling

For deep cavities and staged treatment, a temporary filling is placed after the infected tissue has been thoroughly removed. This allows the dental pulp to settle and the healing process to be monitored before the final composite filling is placed.

Post-and-core restoration and repair of a fractured tooth

For severely damaged or fractured teeth, a glass fiber post may be placed inside the root canal to provide additional support and stability. This allows the missing tooth structure to be reliably rebuilt and chewing function to be restored.