At your dental exam, the dentist will check any existing fillings and look for signs of new decay, such as brown or black spots. The dentist may want to use X-rays to take a closer look at suspicious areas.

If you have a cavity, your dentist may keep an eye on it (if it’s very small) or fill it right away. If a large cavity is not filled, it can get bigger and cause pain. The tooth may even have to be removed if the cavity is not addressed.

If you have a cavity and it needs a filling, there are different kinds of fillings to chose from. The most common are amalgam or composite fillings. Dental amalgam is made of metals and is a silver color. Tooth colored filings are made of composite and are the same colour as your natural teeth.