The following schematic diagrams show how your dentist will prepare your tooth when it is decayed.

		Tooth decay has damaged this tooth. The decay has penetrated the enamel (grey) and dentin (brown).
				To remove the enamel a high speed water cooled drill is used.

		This uses a diamond coated bur as enamel is very hard.		A slow drill is then used to remove the dentin which is soft. This has a big round bur which scoops the soft dentin up.

		Once all the decay has been removed the cavity is washed with clean water.		The dentin is then coated with a liner/base which insulates the nerve.

			The amalgam restoration is then placed. When a wall of the tooth is missing a metal band may need to be placed around the tooth which acts like a cake tin. The filling material is placed inside this which acts as a former until it is strong enough to support itself.