Do You Have A Few Cavities? Here's Why You Shouldn't Put Off Having Them Filled

Dentist Blog

The last thing you want to hear on your regular dental checkup is that you have cavities that need to be filled. If they're not causing you pain yet, you may be tempted to put off the dental work until you have more money or time to get it done. However, it isn't a good idea to delay getting fillings. Here's why.

Small Fillings Are Easier To Endure

If a cavity is tiny, your dentist may be able to put in a filling without even using anesthesia. That could be a very big deal if you have a needle phobia. Since the dentist won't have to drill so deep to remove tooth decay, your discomfort shouldn't be too bad. If you have a fear of drills or anything else related to dental work, you want to get in and out as fast as possible. One way to do that is to have dental work done early. If you put off getting your fillings because you fear the dentist, when you finally do go, the ordeal will be more complex and stressful.

Cavities Only Get Worse

Chances are very high your cavity will only get worse as time goes on. It may grow quickly or slowly, but eventually it eats through your tooth enamel. This break in the enamel allows bacteria to get inside the tooth. If that happens, the pulp or root can become infected. You could develop a very painful abscess in addition to the tooth pain caused by exposed nerves.

Dental Work Gets More Expensive If You Put It Off

If your cavity gets too big, you may not have enough healthy tooth left for the filling to attach. That means you'll need to get a crown to restore your tooth. If you also have an infection, you could need a root canal procedure to clean it out. These extra procedures drive up the cost of your treatment. A simple filling could cost about $100, while a crown runs closer to $1000.

If you don't want to get fillings because you can't afford the cost, talk to your dentist to see if there are programs that can help you. If you don't want the dental work because of a phobia, your dentist may be able to give you medications to help you relax, so you can endure the treatment. Whatever you do, don't let your teeth go untreated until they are so decayed you suffer with a lot of pain or risk losing your teeth.

For more information, contact Ginger Scoggins DDS or a similar dental professional.

Share

18 December 2014

Maximizing Your Smile Power

As a busy professional, my public appearance is very important to me. Networking with potential clients and business contacts is as much about the image you present as it is about what you do and what you know. I take care to look my best every day by taking special care with my hair, makeup, and clothes. But for a long time, I was embarrassed about my smile, and restricted myself to tight, closed mouth smiles to hide my yellowed, crooked teeth. Then I discovered what cosmetic dentistry could do for me. With the help of a great cosmetic dentist, I decided to have tooth whitening treatments and use corrective tooth straightening equipment. Now I have no problem flashing a big, white smile everywhere I go. You can do the same thing! Find out how cosmetic dentistry can maximize your smile power and improve your life.