The first symptom of tooth decay. Acids from the bacteria living in your mouth dissolve the enamel covering your teeth deep enough that a hole forms that exposes the dentin. Without treatment, the hole will become deeper until it reaches the pulp of the tooth.

Filling a cavity involves using a drill to remove the decaying enamel, then filling the gap with a mixture containing silver and/or porcelain.

Cav"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Cavities (#). [L. cavus hollow: cf. F. cavit'e.]

1.

Hollowness.

[Obs.]

The cavity or hollowness of the place. Goodwin.

2.

A hollow place; a hollow; as, the abdominal cavity.

An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon. Arbuthot.

Abnormal spaces or excavations are frequently formed in the lungs, which are designated cavities or vomicae. Quain.

Body cavity, the celum. See under Body.

 

© Webster 1913.