For many of us, cavities are all too common. No matter if they tend to appear when we’re younger or older, it’s important that you don’t ignore the warning signs. Failure to have a professional dentist address a cavity can cause serious health issues down the line. So why shouldn’t you ignore a cavity? Here are just a few reasons:
Pain
A cavity typically starts out very small and may only begin to bother you when it becomes larger and starts to really work its way into the dentin of your tooth. Frequent checkups at the dentist can catch cavities when they are at this stage. The procedure to remove the decay and fill the tooth is much simpler in this stage of development and takes very little time to accomplish. Once the cavity erodes further inside of the tooth, it can begin to cause severe pain when the person eats or drinks. This is especially true when they eat sweets or cold food and drinks. The pain can become unbearable for some people and may require an emergency dental visit.
Additional problems
In some cases, the cavity can cause other serious problems such as abscesses, dead teeth, crumbling teeth, and additional cavities that begin on adjacent teeth. When an abscess develops, it requires antibiotic treatments to control the infection and then an additional visit to potentially perform a root canal. Once the infection in the tooth subsides, the affected tooth is either crowned or removed. Teeth that crumble may not be stable enough to handle a crown and require removal. If the patient wishes to restore the tooth, they have the option to choose an implant. If the cavities spread to surrounding teeth, it starts to become a serious issue that requires extensive dental treatments. With these treatments come additional costs and prolonged issues.
Prevent future problems
Making regular appointments for checkups and cleanings can help catch cavities when they are in their initial stages. The process to correct the cavity is quick and easy and prevents the patient from having to undergo extensive dental and restorative procedures. Don’t let cavities progress, make an appointment if you suspect you have one and take care of it as soon as you can.
Cavities are common and can happen at any point in your life. It is important to make regular visits to the dentist so they can detect them early and fix them before they become a bigger problem. Make your appointment today and choose Albuquerque’s trusted dentist—Heflin Family Dentistry!