• TV SCHEDULES |
  • VIDEO |
  • TV SHOWS |
  • SHOP
  • Daily TV Schedule
  • Weekly TV Schedule
  • Adventures in Parenting
  • Baby Madness
  • Dr. G: Medical Examiner
  • I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant
  • My Teen's a Nightmare
  • I'm Pregnant And ...
  • Psych Week
  • New Year, New You
  • World's Worst Teens
  • TV Specials
Discovery Health Finder Discovery Health Newsletters
  • Diseases & Conditions
  • Human Body
  • Love & Relationships
  • Medicine
  • Mental Health
  • Pregnancy & Parenting
  • Sexual Health
  • Skin Care
  • Wellness
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Conditions
  • Cold & Flu
  • Headache
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic Fatigue
  • Osteoporosis
  • Urinary Tract Infections
  • Digestive Health
  • Pain Management
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Musculoskeletal Conditions
  • Rare Diseases
  • Respiratory Conditions
  • Death & Dying
  • Body Parts
  • Body Systems
  • Cells & Tissues
  • Dating
  • Relationship Advice
  • Relationship Tips
  • Love
  • Marriage
  • Modern Medicine
  • Medications
  • Tests & Treatment
  • Surgeries & Procedures
  • Healthcare System
  • First Aid
  • Army Medicine
  • Human Nature
  • Sleep & Dreams
  • Anxiety
  • Autism
  • Coping
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Mental Disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Neurological Conditions
  • Great Psychologists
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby Health
  • Parenting
  • Teenage Health
  • Childhood Conditions
  • Male Reproductive System
  • Female Reproductive System
  • Contraception
  • Sexual Dysfunction
  • Sexuality
  • Daily Skin Care
  • Skin Cleansing
  • Skin Moisturizing
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Skin Problems
  • Skin Information
  • Skin Care for Men
  • Underarm Care
  • Scalp Care
  • Lip Care
  • Nail Care
  • Beauty & Hygiene
  • Diet & Fitness
  • Drugs & Alcohol
  • Food & Nutrition
  • Natural Medicine
  • Preventive Care
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Stress Management
  • Cosmetic Treatments
  • Aging
  • Men's Health
  • Women's Health
  • Discovery Fit & Health > 
  • Guides > 
  • Wellness > 
  • Beauty & Hygiene > 
  • Oral Care > 
  • Dental Problems

by Dr. Jerry Gordon

Print
Cite This!
Close 
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

Gordon, Dr. Jerry.  "Cavities and Fillings 101"  01 April 2000.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/problems/cavity.htm>  23 May 2012.
Cite
Feedback

Oral Health Guide

Get information, tips and advice for making oral health an easy part of your daily routine.

Inside this Article
  1. Cavities and Fillings 101
  2. Cavity Basics
  3. Decoding Dental Jargon
  1. How Will I Know if I Have a Cavity?
  2. How Fillings Work
  3. Dental Lasers and Drills
  4. See more »
    1. What dental material is best for my teeth?
    2. How to Prevent Cavities
    3. Lots More Information
    4. See all Dental Problems articles

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

  • 6 Tips To Cure Bad Breath
  • How Dental Disease Works
  • How Oral Hygiene Works
  • Home Remedies for Whiter Teeth
  • How Cosmetic Dentistry Works

More Great Links

  • Mirago Health: Preventing dental disease
  • The American Dental Association
  • American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  • Dental America - Discount dental insurance

 

Previous Page

You Might Also Like

Oral Hygiene 101

Of all the health problems that can plague us, those involving our teeth are probably the most preventable. Learn about the few simple habits that are all you need to maintain good oral hygiene.

How to Relieve a Toothache

The toothache isn't easy to endure. The good news: With improved dental care, the a toothache is not as common as it once was. Learn what to do when a toothache does make an appearance.

Popular Articles

  • Brace Yourself: To whiten or wait?
  • 10 Fluoride Facts You Should Know
  • How does brushing your teeth affect your health?
Inside this Article
  1. Cavities and Fillings 101
  2. Cavity Basics
  3. Decoding Dental Jargon
  4. How Will I Know if I Have a Cavity?
  5. How Fillings Work
  1. Dental Lasers and Drills
  2. What dental material is best for my teeth?
  3. How to Prevent Cavities
  4. Lots More Information
  5. See all Dental Problems articles
Previous Page

Avoid Beauty Pitfalls

FPO
  • Do you know the #1 cause of wrinkles?
  • Eat Your Way to Healthy Skin
  • Find out the Cure for Razor Burn
  • What does drinking do to your skin?
  • See More»

SYMPTOM CHECKER

DISEASES A-Z

Learn more about what ails you. Here are some common symptoms.

See all »

Common Symptoms:

  • Back Pain
  • Breast Lump
  • Chest Pain
  • Chills
  • Dizziness
  • Dry Skin
  • Fever
  • Joint Pain
  • Rash
  • Sunburn

A comprehensive guide with three thousand articles, including images and multimedia.

See all �

Common Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Headache
  • Heart Disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
OUR SITES
  • Animal Planet
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Kids
  • Discovery Fit & Health
  • HD Theater
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Military Channel
  • Oprah Winfrey Network
  • Planet Green
  • Science Channel
  • TLC
  • Turbo
  • Consumer Guide Auto
  • Consumer Guide Products
  • Discovery Education
  • Discovery News
  • HowStuffWorks
  • Petfinder
  • Student Competitions
  • TreeHugger
VIDEO
  • Discovery Health Video
SHOP
  • Discovery Store
  • DVDs & Books
  • Custom Gear
  • Toys & Games
  • Gift Sets
  • Sale
  • Discovery Adventures
  • Student Adventures
  • Discovery TSX
  • Discovery Corporate Sales
STAY CONNECTED
  • Email Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
CORPORATE
  • Discovery Communications, LLC
  • Viewer Relations
  • Advertising
  • Careers @ Discovery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Visitor Agreement

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC. The number-one nonfiction media company.