Dental decay is caused by the softening of the overlying enamel and dentine of a tooth due to acid attack released by certain bacteria in the mouth after eating or drinking anything containing sugars. Over time, the acid makes a cavity (hole) in the tooth. The risk of developing cavities increases if you have a habit of snacking on sweet foods or drinks in between meals. Dental decay is the same as tooth decay and is also known as dental caries.
By attending regularly for your oral health checks here at The Dentists of Didsbury, we would monitor the health of your teeth and provide you with advice on how to keep them healthy as well as provide treatments to help you to prevent tooth decay.
Enamel caries can be reversed with no need for a filling, if, however, the cavity extends into the underlying dentine, a filling would be required to restore the health of the tooth.
Should you require a filling, we have a range of options available to you. We can place a functional amalgam (silver) filling, alternatively, for a more aesthetically pleasing solution, we also offer composite (tooth-coloured/white) fillings.
We can also replace your existing amalgam fillings with composite fillings.
Fillings can also be used to repair worn teeth.