S1 · Hero – Cavities · Calista
Preventive & Restorative Care

Cavities Don't Wait.
Neither Should You.

A small cavity treated today stays small. Left alone, it becomes a root canal tomorrow. Dr. Prachi catches decay early, restores your tooth seamlessly, and keeps your smile healthy for years to come.

Book a Cavity Check How Do Cavities Form?
5,000+ Smiles
Pain-Free Promise
Khar West, Mumbai
Healthy smile after cavity treatment at Calista Dental
Early Detection. Lasting Results.
Cavity Care · Calista
S2 · What Is – Cavities · Calista
Understanding Cavities

What Is a Cavity
and How Does It Form?

A cavity is a small hole that forms in your tooth when bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and produce acid. That acid quietly eats through your enamel over time, often without any pain until the damage is already deep. Left untreated, a simple cavity can progress into a root canal or even tooth loss.

Cavities rarely hurt in the early stages, making regular checkups essential for catching them early
Sugar, frequent snacking, poor brushing habits, and skipping dental visits are the leading causes of cavities
Sensitivity to sweets, cold, or pressure is often the first sign something is wrong
Caught early, cavities are treated quickly with a simple, painless tooth-coloured filling
The Calista Approach
We use digital X-rays to catch cavities before you feel them, so treatment stays simple, fast, and completely pain-free.
96%
of Adults Have Had a Cavity

Tooth decay is one of the most widespread chronic conditions in the world, affecting nearly every adult at some point in their life.

2 Yrs
For a Cavity to Form Undetected

Decay can progress silently for years before causing pain. By the time it hurts, it often requires more than just a filling.

1 Visit
to Treat Most Cavities at Calista

Most fillings at Calista are completed in a single appointment using tooth-coloured composite resin that blends naturally with your smile.

S3 · How It Works – Cavities · Calista
Cavity Treatment

How We Treat Your Cavity

A simple, pain-free process that stops decay in its tracks and restores your tooth to full health.

1
Examination & X-Ray

Dr. Prachi examines your teeth and takes a digital X-ray to detect the exact location and depth of the cavity including decay that isn't yet visible to the eye.

2
Gentle Numbing

A local anaesthetic is applied to ensure you feel nothing during the procedure. Most patients are surprised by how completely painless and quick this step is.

3
Decay Removal

The decayed portion of the tooth is carefully removed using precision instruments, leaving only clean, healthy tooth structure behind. Nothing more, nothing less.

4
Tooth-Coloured Filling

A composite resin filling, perfectly matched to your tooth shade, is placed and polished. Your tooth looks natural, feels natural, and is fully protected from further decay.

Benefits of Cavity Treatment · Calista Dental
Cavities

Benefits of Cavity Treatment

A cavity treated early is a tooth saved entirely. At Calista Dental, we remove decay precisely and restore your tooth in a single visit, stopping the damage before it reaches the nerve.

Stops decay from spreading
Untreated cavities progress into the pulp and surrounding teeth. Filling them early ends the damage at its source.
Keeps your natural tooth intact
We remove only the decayed portion and seal the rest. Your original tooth structure stays in place.
Relieves sensitivity and pain
Cold, heat, and pressure sensitivity resolve once the exposed dentin is sealed with a tooth-coloured composite filling.
Prevents root canal treatment
Decay that reaches the nerve requires a root canal. Treating the cavity early avoids that procedure entirely.
Invisible, tooth-coloured result
We use composite resin matched to your tooth shade. No metal fillings, no visible repair, just a clean, natural finish.
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Cavity treatment results at Calista Dental, Mumbai
S3 · Who Is This For – Cavities · Calista
Ideal Candidates

Who is cavity treatment
the right fit for?

Cavities rarely hurt until they are deep. These are the patients who benefit most from treating them early, before a simple filling becomes a bigger procedure.

Children and Teenagers
First permanent molars erupt between ages 6 and 12 and are the most decay-prone teeth in the mouth. Treating them early prevents the cavity from reaching the pulp and needing a root canal.
Adults with Tooth Sensitivity
A sharp sting when eating something hot, cold, or sweet is often the first sign of a cavity forming. Catching it at this stage means a straightforward filling rather than a root canal.
Frequent Snackers and Sugary Drink Consumers
Constant exposure to sugar and acidic drinks keeps enamel under attack all day. This pattern accelerates decay far more than eating the same foods in one sitting.
Patients with Dry Mouth
Saliva neutralises acid and washes away bacteria after every meal. When saliva flow is low, due to certain medications or health conditions, cavities form faster and in unusual spots.
Those Who Have Skipped Dental Visits
Early-stage cavities cause no pain and are invisible to the naked eye. A long gap in check-ups usually means decay is discovered later, deeper, and costlier to restore.
Anyone with Old or Cracked Fillings
Fillings wear down over years of chewing. Micro-cracks at the margins let bacteria seep back in, causing secondary decay underneath the existing restoration that is harder to detect.
S5 · Why Calista – Cavities · Calista
The Calista Difference

Why Choose Calista
for Cavities?

Most clinics drill and fill the same way they did 30 years ago. At Calista, digital diagnostics catch decay at its earliest stage, and micro-invasive techniques remove only what needs to go so the healthy tooth around it stays intact. The result is a filling that is invisible, precisely matched, and built to last.

Caught Early, Treated Simply

Digital X-rays and intraoral cameras detect cavities long before they become visible or painful. The earlier we catch it, the smaller the treatment and the lower the cost.

Micro-Invasive Drilling

We remove only the decayed portion, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible. Less drilling means less sensitivity after treatment and a stronger tooth long-term.

Shade-Matched, Invisible Fillings

Composite resin fillings are colour-matched to your exact tooth shade and bonded seamlessly to the surface. No dark metal spots, no visible repairs, just your natural smile.

Fixing the Cause, Not Just the Cavity

After treatment, Dr. Prachi identifies why the cavity formed, whether it's a brushing gap, diet habit, or enamel weakness, so you leave with a plan to prevent the next one.

Smile Gallery

Cavities, Restored

A look at the seamless, tooth-coloured results from our cavity and filling care at Calista. Hover over and tap any image to view it larger.

S7 · FAQs – Cavities · Calista
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does treating a cavity hurt?
No. At Calista, we apply a local anaesthetic before any drilling so the treatment area is fully numb. You may feel slight pressure but no pain. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable and quick the process is. Any mild sensitivity after the procedure typically settles within a day or two.
How do I know if I have a cavity?
Early cavities often have no symptoms at all, which is why routine check-ups matter. As decay progresses, you may notice tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, visible dark spots, or a dull ache. Dr. Prachi detects cavities early through a clinical exam and X-rays, often before you feel any discomfort.
What filling material do you use?
We use tooth-coloured composite resin fillings that blend seamlessly with your natural enamel. They are BPA-free, durable, and require less removal of healthy tooth structure than older silver amalgam fillings. The result is a strong, invisible restoration that looks and feels like your natural tooth.
Can a cavity heal on its own?
In the very earliest stage, when decay is limited to the enamel surface, fluoride treatment can help remineralise and reverse the damage. Once a cavity has broken through the enamel, it cannot self-repair and will only get larger. Early treatment at Calista means a simpler, smaller filling and no unnecessary tooth loss.
How long does a filling appointment take?
A single filling typically takes 20 to 45 minutes. If you have more than one cavity on the same side of the mouth, Dr. Prachi may treat multiple teeth in the same visit to save you time. You can eat and drink normally once the anaesthetic wears off, usually within 1 to 2 hours after the appointment.
What happens if I leave a cavity untreated?
Decay spreads inward through the enamel, into the dentin, and eventually reaches the tooth's pulp. At that stage, a root canal becomes necessary instead of a simple filling. Left even longer, the tooth may abscess or require extraction. Treating a cavity early at Calista is always faster, simpler, and more affordable.
How long do composite fillings last?
With good oral hygiene, composite resin fillings typically last 7 to 10 years. Longevity depends on the size of the filling, its location in the mouth, and how well you maintain your teeth. Dr. Prachi checks the condition of existing fillings at every recall visit and replaces them before any further decay can set in.
Patient Stories

Real Smiles.
Real Results.

Every smile tells a story. Here are a few from the patients who trusted us with theirs. Hover, swipe or drag to explore.

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5,000+ Smiles Transformed
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Cavity Detection & Fillings

Caught Early, a Cavity
Needs Just One Simple Visit

Left untreated, a small cavity works its way to the nerve and turns into a root canal. At Calista, Dr. Prachi Shah uses tooth-coloured composite fillings that match your natural teeth exactly. No metal, no visible filling, and no unnecessary drilling.

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