General Dentistry Center
The deeper a cavity goes, the larger the treatment becomes. Knowing the four stages of decay helps you understand exactly what your tooth needs — and what it doesn't.
Final treatment plan, cost and duration are confirmed after in-clinic diagnosis.
Cavities form when acids from food residue erode the tooth's outer enamel, and they advance in four stages: enamel decay (treated with a simple resin filling), dentin decay (decay removed and the space filled with an inlay or onlay), pulp involvement (root canal treatment followed by a crown) and pulp necrosis (root canal and crown where possible, extraction in severe cases). Early-stage decay is hard to notice yourself, which is why regular check-ups matter. At Today Dental Clinic, the diagnosis comes first — and we treat only what is actually necessary.
Who it fits
Process
Decay confined to the tooth's outer surface. There is usually no pain — only white spots or dark stains. A resin filling restores the tooth with minimal drilling, which is why catching decay at this stage is ideal.
Decay has passed through the enamel into the softer dentin underneath, and sensitivity often appears. The decayed portion is removed and the space is restored with an inlay or onlay shaped to fit the tooth.
Once decay reaches the nerve (pulp), pain becomes hard to ignore. The infected nerve tissue is treated with a root canal, and the weakened tooth is covered with a crown to protect it.
If decay is left untreated, the nerve can die and infection spreads around the root. Where the tooth can still be kept, a root canal and crown are performed; in severe cases, extraction may be unavoidable — which is exactly why the earlier stages are the time to act.
Care system
Cavity care is among the most common dental treatments — and the easiest to overdo. We diagnose precisely, preserve as much natural tooth as possible and recommend only the treatment each tooth genuinely needs.
Board-certified specialists in different fields review cases together before treatment begins, supported by safety-certified materials and a strict hygiene system.
Patient stories
2024.05.09
Before treatment: staining along the chewing-surface grooves was examined for decay.
2024.05.24
After treatment: the decayed area was removed and restored with a tooth-coloured material.
Final treatment plan, cost and duration are confirmed after in-clinic diagnosis.
FAQ
Each has different strengths. Resin bonds directly to the tooth, so less healthy structure is removed, and its colour blends in — well suited to smaller cavities. Ceramic inlays and onlays reproduce natural tooth colour with good strength, making them a popular aesthetic choice. Gold has hardness similar to natural teeth and withstands chewing force well, which makes it advantageous for cavities between teeth where the original shape must be rebuilt. The right choice depends on the cavity's size and position, your bite and your budget — we explain the trade-offs case by case.
It depends on the stage. A small resin filling is usually completed in a single visit. Inlays and onlays typically need two visits — one to prepare the tooth and take an impression, one to bond the final piece. If the decay has reached the nerve, root canal treatment plus a crown requires several appointments and cannot always fit a short itinerary. Tell us your dates in advance and we will map out honestly what can and cannot be completed.
Yes — and that is precisely the problem with early decay. Enamel-stage cavities rarely cause any pain, and by the time a tooth clearly hurts, the decay has often reached the dentin or the nerve, where treatment becomes larger. Because early cavities are hard to spot yourself, a periodic check-up is the practical way to catch them while a simple filling is still enough.
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