If decay is detected at an early stage, it can be treated with a simple filling, which involves removing the damaged part of the tooth and filling the resulting cavity with a composite resin restorative material.

In other cases, if the decay is more advanced and there is a greater loss of tooth structure, an inlay, onlay or partial crown may be used to restore the tooth.

The aim of conservative dental care is to preserve as much of the natural tooth structure as possible, in order to preserve the functionality of the tooth and reduce the need for more invasive procedures, such as tooth extractions or implants.