The Chairside Instructor 24 Cavities Decay, Cavities and Restorations General Steps of a Filling 1. Tooth is prepared. Your dentist will help you feel comfortable during treatment and will go over options that will make sure you don’t feel any pain in and around the tooth being filled. Your mouth may be numbed. 2. Decay is removed. Your dentist removes all of the decayed area from your tooth. 3. Tooth is Rinsed and Dried. Your tooth is rinsed and dried to get it ready for the filling material. 4. Filling material is placed and shaped. Once the new filling is in place, your dentist will shape to restore the form of your tooth. Your bite is also checked to make sure it feels natural. When decay gets through the enamel of your tooth, a cavity can form. Once a cavity forms, it can continue to spread deeper and deeper into the layers of your tooth. It’s important to catch and treat a cavity as early as possible to avoid serious problems, like an abscess or an infection.