Basically, the stains or discolorations can be classified into three categories, each requiring a different treatment approach.


Have you noticed black or white spots on your teeth while brushing?

Does food get stuck in or between your teeth each time you eat? Especially fibrous foods?

Do you experience pain or sensitivity while eating sweets or drinking cold water or beverages?

Be warned! You may be developing cavities in your teeth!


This web page explains how the tooth decay process starts, how it can be stopped or even reversed to keep you and your children from getting cavities, how to repair the cavities once they are formed.

  • What's inside our mouths?
  • What goes on in our mouths all day?
  • How does a cavity develop?
  • How can we help teeth win the tug of war and avoid a cavity?
  • How can we repair a cavity once it is formed?
  • How long does it take to complete a filling?
  • Does it hurt?
  • How long will the fillings last?
  • What will be the expenses incurred?
  • Dental Xrays

What's Inside Our Mouths?

Food particles and a sticky film comprising of salivary proteins and bacteria (called plaque) are the common soft deposits which stain the teeth. If this plaque is not removed regularly, calcium salts get deposited in the plaque, hardening it into a cement-like substance called tartar or calculus (picture). Plaque and calculus around or on teeth indicates ineffective oral hygiene.

Bad breath or halitosis, is a common occurrence in such patients.

Thorough professional cleaning and polishing would remove these stains.

Our team, Dr Rekha Mahajan, Dr Sanju Mehtre and Lata, can make your teeth stain-free and guide you on how to maintain that bright new smile!



What Goes On Inside Our Mouths All Day?



On the other team are the minerals in our saliva (such as calcium and phosphate) plus fluoride from toothpaste, water, and other sources. This team helps enamel repair itself by replacing minerals lost during an "acid attack." Our teeth go through this natural process of losing minerals and regaining minerals all day long.

How Does A Cavity Develop?




How Can We Help Teeth Win The Tug Of War And Avoid A Cavity?

Use Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent tooth decay from progressing. It can even reverse, or stop, early tooth decay. Fluoride works to protect teeth. It . . .

Tooth-Friendly Tips:-
  • Prevents mineral loss in tooth enamel and replaces lost minerals
  • Reduces the ability of bacteria to make acid You can get fluoride by
  • Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste If your dentist thinks you need more fluoride to keep your teeth healthy, he or she may.

  • Apply a fluoride gel or varnish to tooth surface
  • Recommend using a fluoride mouth rinse
  • Limit intake of fruit juice.
  • Make sure you or your child don't eat or drink anything with sugar in it after bedtime tooth brushing. Saliva flow decreases during sleep. Without enough saliva, teeth are less able to repair themselves after an acid attack.
Keep An Yye On How Often You Aat, As Well As What You Eat

Your diet is important in preventing a cavity. Remember . . . every time we eat or drink something that contains sugar or starches, bacteria in our mouth use the sugar and starch to produce acids. These acids begin to eat away at the tooth's enamel. Our saliva can help fight off this acid attack. But if we eat frequently throughout the day -- especially foods and drinks containing sugar and starches -- the repeated acid attacks will win the tug of war, causing the tooth to lose minerals and eventually develop a cavity. That's why it's important to keep an eye on how often you eat as well as what you eat.

Make Sure You Brush Your Teeth !

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is important for preventing cavities.

Here's what you should know about brushing :-


  • Brush two times per day
  • Supervise young children when they brush

Talk To Us About Sealants




Visit Your Dentist For Regular Check-Ups


  • Remove dental plaque
  • Check for any areas of early tooth decay
  • Show you and your child how to thoroughly clean the teeth
  • Apply a fluoride gel or varnish, if necessary
  • Schedule your next regular check-up

How Can We Repair A Cavity Once It Is Formed?

Once a cavity is formed the only way to repair it is by filling the cavity with a suitable restorative material.

There are two basic materials that can be used to fill cavities in the back teeth, silver amalgam and composite resin. For decades, silver amalgam has been used successfully because of its durability, ease of use and affordability. However, currently composite resin is the material of choice for filling cavities. Two main benefits of choosing composite resin over silver amalgam are:

(1) Composites are tooth colored and therefore not noticeable The resin colour closely matches that of a natural tooth, making this option much more aesthetically pleasing.

(2) They are bonded to the cavity using special process and hence require less natural tooth structure to be cut.

When a light cured composite resin filling is properly created and well maintained it can provide the patient with a strong, long lasting and aesthetically pleasing restoration.

Teeth with very deep cavities which have involved the pulp or nerve tissue of the tooth will require root canal treatment (Click here for more information)

How Long Does It Take To Complete The Filling?

Generally just one appointment lasting 30 minutes to one hour should be sufficient for one tooth.

Does Tt Hurt?

No! Modern techniques in restorative dentistry are not painful. However if the cavity is deep and approaching the nerve of the tooth, we may need to numb the tooth to avoid discomfort. The trick is to catch the cavities in their early stages. This reduces work required, discomfort and cost. So do not ignore spots and cavities even if they don’t hurt!

How Long Will The Fillings Last?

Good quality fillings will last longer and prevent recurrent decay. Depending upon extent of decay, technique and material used and maintenance, restorations will generally last between 5 to 10 years. Some of our patients have reported with restorations lasting over 25 years! Creating quality restorations can take some more time, effort and charges but will definitely be beneficial in the long run.

At Smilecare, for the past 40 years we have kept ourselves abreast with the latest in our fields and provide long lasting treatment to four generations of patients.

Dr.Uma Mahajan specializes in restoring and saving natural teeth and getting them back into function.

If you are numb following the procedure, you should take care to avoid accidentally biting your lips or cheeks. You should also avoid very hot liquids, until normal sensation returns. The filling will be completely set as soon as the dentist is finished, therefore, you do not have to avoid hard foods or wait for further hardening of the filling material. The tooth may feel sensitive for a few days or even a few weeks after the procedure. This sensitivity normally subsides on its own.Gross neglect leading to extensive caries/decay in teeth

Why Does Tt Take So Long To Hurt?

Nerve fibres, the way that pain is sent through the body, aren’t present in tooth enamel. While the acid is attacking the enamel, you can’t feel a thing.

Once the acid has begun to create a cavity and attacks the dentin under the enamel, the nerve fibres begin to send out a message that something is wrong. But by then, you have tooth decay.

That’s why it’s important to have regular, preventive dental check-ups. Don’t wait until it hurts!

Next: What is Root Canal Therapy?

What Are The Expenses Incurred To Fill A Cavity?

Depending upon the extent ,size, depth, nature of decay our charges for restoring a cavity may range from Rs.850 to Rs.2400. Xray if required will be charged at Rs.200 per Xray.

Dental X-rays



When the nerve in a tooth is badly damaged, either by an accidental trauma or because of dental decay, sometimes your dentist (or a dental specialist like an Endodontist) will perform Root Canal Therapy (Click here), where a hole is made into the tooth and the damaged nerve (or pulp) is removed with a special file and replaced with a filling material. Usually the tooth is later fitted with a new top called crown to help it remain strong