The main objective of modern dentistry is to conserve as many natural teeth as possible for the longest amount of time. Restorative treatments or "fillings" is the most popular method of repairing teeth that have developed cavities. The acid secreted by bacteria located in your mouth causes cavities. When we have identified a cavity we first remove the infected material and then fill in the space with a material used to withstand the tremendous pressure developed when we are chewing food. Modern dentistry has made available an assortment of space age restorative materials, which have better performance ratings than materials available just a few years ago. We can now virtually match the existing color of your teeth with restorative materials that make it almost impossible to detect a repair. Of course time tested silver amalgam fillings are still available for those people who are nostalgic.