Cavities are a sign of tooth decay, which can also cause toothache, weakness in the tooth and sensitivity. There are high street dental kits available to buy, but we highly recommend seeing a dentist if you have dental problems.

If you have a cavity, there is a risk that bacterial infection and decay can spread through the tooth and this can cause pain and result in significant damage to the tooth, which may result in the need for extensive restoration or root canal treatment. Infections can also result in abscesses, which are very painful. The best course of action is to treat a cavity early using a filling. Often, the danger is that people buy a high street kit and perform a DIY filling procedure as an alternative to going to the dentist, which only serves to increase the risk of further damage and the spread of decay through the tooth.

The filling procedure

At the Harley Street Dental Studio we use the latest restorative treatments to produce strong, healthy teeth. Our white fillings help to restore and strengthen the tooth without impacting on the aesthetic of the tooth; they also help to prevent the spread of decay, as the cavity is cleaned thoroughly and the decayed tissue is removed.

The filling procedure is relatively short and there is nothing to worry about. Before the procedure, the tooth is numbed using local anaesthetic to ensure that you feel comfortable during the process and your dentist will then remove the decayed tissue, clean the cavity and place adhesive inside the hole so that the filling will bond properly. White fillings are made from dental composite, which is placed inside the cavity while in soft, malleable putty form. The composite is shaped to match the cavity and your dentist will then shine a curing light onto the tooth to set the composite. Once the composite is hard, your dentist will make any final touches.

Dental first aid kits can be handy as a stop-gap in an emergency, but we generally recommend seeing a dentist if you are able to. This ensures that you get the appropriate treatment quickly and prevents you from suffering from pain.