A cavity is a hole in the tooth that is caused by bacteria. Bacteria feed on the sugars in food and produce acids that dissolve the tooth enamel. If a cavity is not treated, it can lead to pain, infection, and tooth loss.
Dentists fix cavities by removing the decayed tooth tissue and filling the hole with a material such as amalgam, composite resin, or glass ionomer cement. The type of filling material used will depend on the size and location of the cavity.
