With spring arriving in a few short days, there is no better time to schedule an oral hygiene examination and cleaning. During these visits, we not only thoroughly clean your teeth, but we also check for problems in your mouth, such as dental decay. If we detect decay, also known as a cavity, we will recommend that you schedule an appointment for a filling. The process of filling a tooth includes removing the harmful decay and replacing it with a composite material that blends in with the remaining tooth enamel. Receiving treatment as soon as we recommend it is extremely important. Cavities cannot heal on their own and will continue to expand, potentially leading to the need for a more involved treatment.