Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
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Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
Picture this:
You are brushing your teeth when you notice a dark spot on one of your molars. You know that's a cavity, but it's not hurting or causing any troubles, so you decided to ignore it for now.
Is that a good idea?
The short and obvious answer is that no, leaving cavities untreated is a bad idea that can lead to serious problems down the line that may require emergency dentistry.
Here's what can happen.
Sometimes, it can be really easy to tell you have a cavity. You feel pain and seeking around the affected tooth. Other times, the signs can be more minor, such as persistent bad breath or the appearance of a black dot or a hole in the tooth structure.
The reasonable thing to do when you notice a cavity is to call your dentist and schedule an appointment. Failure to do so can lead to some of the following problems.
Here's what can happen if you don't treat your cavities on time:
Cavities don't go away on their own, and if you don't treat them in time, they can spread to the entire surface of the tooth, and then to other teeth.
Cavities tend to widen and deepen, making your teeth brittle and more prone to cracking or breaking.
The further the decay progresses, the faster it reaches the tooth nerves, exposing them to the air. This causes a great deal of pain and tearing as the decay progresses and the nerve health is compromised. Depending on how severe the problem is, the dentist will either perform a root canal or extract the tooth.
The more you let a cavity untreated, the higher the risks of infection. Infection comes with increased pain, swelling, and other more serious problems.
It is best to schedule a visit to your dentist as soon as you discover a cavity to have it filled and prevent it from getting worse.
However, there is also the possibility that you will not realize that you have a cavity until it hurts and the tooth is too damaged, which is why it is recommended to have a check-up once every six months to discover any potential problems early on and address them in time.
Preventive care with the help of the specialists at Lakeside Dental is perhaps one of the best ways of ensuring your teeth stay healthy and clean. So, make sure to schedule your routine appointment even if everything looks fine and you think your teeth are in perfect health.
