Cavities are a hassle to take care of. You hardly notice it at first, and you have to take time off to fix it. However, if left untreated, cavities can become increasingly painful and harmful until the results are permanent. Don’t let your cavity become a serious issue. See your dentist every six months as recommended, and get cavities filled as soon as possible.
You’ll Have Tooth Pain
Cavities occur when bacteria weakens the enamel on your teeth, forming a hole. Your enamel is the hard, outer layer of your tooth, and you will likely not feel pain from a cavity at first. However, if not treated, the cavity continues to grow, decaying through all the levels of your teeth. Lepore Dentistry reminds us that if a cavity reaches the innermost layer of your tooth, it causes nerve pain. At this point, the work that needs to be done to restore your tooth is much more extensive and painful. If you only go to the dentist when you feel consistent tooth pain, you could risk more damage to your tooth.
You May Need a Root Canal
When a cavity eats down to the innermost layer of your tooth, a simple filling won’t cut it anymore. At this point, the bacteria from the cavity has eaten through the protective layers. There’s a good chance your nerve tissue has become infected, and an abscess may have formed. According to Alpine Dental, swollen gum tissue may indicate you need a root canal. A root canal is the last ditch effort to save your tooth when a cavity has become detrimental. Root canals are much more expensive and painful than a regular filling, so it’s a much better option to treat your cavities early.
You Could Lose Your Tooth
If you wait too long to treat a cavity, and a root canal is no longer a viable solution, your tooth will have to be pulled. At this point, the cavity has eaten away at most of the tooth including the nerves, and it would be more dangerous to leave your tooth as is. Getting a tooth pulled is painful, and a tooth is incredibly costly to replace. You will have to meet with a specialist outside of your dentist’s office. You will then either have to receive an implant, or a flipper tooth that is attached to a retainer you’ll have to wear forever. Both of these options are expensive and easily avoided with regular trips to your dentist.
A cavity is a small issue, but it can become detrimental if left untreated. Be diligent with your bi-yearly dental checkup, and get your cavities filled as quickly as possible. It might be slightly uncomfortable to receive a filling, but the alternative is far more disagreeable.
Check out this article on how to prevent issues in the future with your teeth!