When it comes to general health, most people act quickly when something is wrong, calling their doctor at the first cause for concern. However, when it comes to dental health, many are not this proactive. Even the idea of getting fillings for a cavity can be nerve-wracking and trigger anxiety for many. The fact is that it's in your best interest to treat your dental health, even the need to get fillings, as important as you treat your overall health. Here are a couple of reasons why you shouldn't put off those necessary fillings for any longer than you have to.
Treating The Problem Now Stops Decay From Worsening
Cavities are actually caused by the physical decay of your tooth. As long as it is left untreated, that decay is going to continue to worsen. As it worsens, your tooth will continue to gradually fall apart. Cavities left long enough lead to exposed nerves in the tooth, which can be very painful. Further, bacteria introduced into that tooth can lead to an abscess that is even more painful and must be treated with antibiotics.
In most cases, if you ignore a cavity for too long, it ultimately requires a root canal or extraction, both of which are much more complex and can be more uncomfortable than a standard cavity filling.
When you have the cavity filled, the dentist will drill away all of the decaying material on the tooth, stopping that decay's progress completely. This prevents any further damage to your tooth and any more extensive dental treatments.
Fillings Will Restore Your Normal Oral Function
If you have started to adapt to the pain in a tooth with a cavity, chewing on the opposite side of your mouth or avoiding that tooth when you eat, having the cavity filled can cover the nerve and stop that pain, allowing you to chew and eat normally again.
In some cases, the discomfort is significant enough that you may even alter how you speak or how you smile. This can also be reversed simply by visiting the dentist to have that tooth treated and the cavity filled.
The more proactive you are about your dental health, the easier the treatments and care will be. Complex and more painful treatments only come into consideration when you neglect a problem and allow it time to worsen beyond traditional treatment. Talk with your dentist today about any oral health concerns you might have, even ones as minor as small cavities.
Share19 April 2019
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
