Like most ailments, the longer you leave a cavity without treatment, the worse it's going to get. In a span of 3-6 months cavities can reach the nerve of your tooth.
Some people have softer tooth enamel than others, making it easier for bacteria or acid to penetrate the tooth. On average, as a broad timeline, it can take anywhere from six months to four or five years before a cavity needs treatment.
Fluoride remineralizes enamel to make teeth as strong as possible. Such fortified teeth are that much more resistant to cavities. In some cases, pinpointing a cavity in the early stages and applying a fluoride treatment will slow the decay.
Untreated cavities can cause severe pain – When tooth decay reaches the dental pulp, which contains the blood vessels, living tissues, and nerves, it causes an extremely painful infection (abscess) at the root of the tooth. Untreated cavities lead to tooth breakage – Cavities destroy teeth.
Your tooth might experience other problems.
This could lead to the need for more serious treatments, such as a root canal, which also usually means a higher cost. If you wait too long, the tooth might become so severely damaged that even other procedures can't save it, which could mean extraction in the end.
How Long Can You Delay Treatment on a Cavity Still in the Enamel? In some cases, early signs of tooth erosion in the enamel can be successfully treated with fluoride toothpaste or surface filling materials. But once an actual cavity forms, dentists usually recommend treating it within a year.
Like most ailments, the longer you leave a cavity without treatment, the worse it's going to get. In a span of 3-6 months cavities can reach the nerve of your tooth.
3) Unnecessary Cavity Filling: Teeth Cavities Can Reverse!
YES! Over 55% of dentists abandon what they learn in dental school and will drill and fill these areas of "incipient decay" (the technical term for the initial cavity formation).
What kind of cavity doesn't need to be filled? If you have a very small cavity limited to the enamel (or outer layer) of your tooth, you may not need to get a filling. This is especially true if you have had very few cavities in the past and practice good oral hygiene.
Cavities don't develop overnight. It takes weeks, months, even years for a cavity to form. In fact, most cavities take around six months to five years to develop. If a cavity is caught early enough, you can actually reverse the damage to your child's teeth.
In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth. Some patients end up with ten or more fillings depending on how well they care for their teeth.
Brushing is essential to preventing your cavity from worsening. Brushing will also help prevent the formation of even more cavities. Zero in on the cavity as you brush to eliminate any remaining food particles from your snack or meal. This thorough brushing can help hinder the cavity's progression.
Is it possible to reverse a cavity that's already formed? There is some evidence suggesting that cavities in their early stages can be reversed. Unfortunately, if you've gotten to the stage where you already feel pain, it's probably too late for that to happen.
The maximum time required for filling a moderate cavity doesn't exceed 40 minutes per tooth. Therefore if you have three intermediate holes, expect to spend about a couple of hours at the dentist's office to restore your tooth to full functionality with dental fillings.
Pus. If you see pus near a tooth or teeth, your cavity has gone too far. It's become an abscess that needs to be handled right away.
You may need to have a tooth extracted if: Periodontal disease has badly infected the tooth. The tooth is badly damaged and cannot be restored by a filling or a crown. You are suffering from pain even after a filling, crown, or treatment for a root canal.
You Need To Get A Filling Even If You Don't Feel Pain Or Discomfort. The answer is “yes.” If you have a cavity, you need to have it filled as soon as possible, even if you don't feel pain or discomfort. In most cases, cavities do not cause any pain until they're very deep and large.
Dentists also spend much of their time caring for patients who are often scared, anxious, or dealing with acute pain due to their teeth. It's no wonder that dentists get dental cavities at a higher rate than most people! While it's not something that happens very frequently, it does happen from time to time.
You may feel embarrassed, but you really shouldn't. Unfortunately, cavities are quite common. According to the FDI World Dental Federation, “Globally, between 60–90% of schoolchildren and nearly 100% adults have tooth decay, often leading to pain and discomfort.”
You may be wondering why it's necessary to get a cavity filled if it isn't causing you pain. But even if they don't hurt, cavities can cause further damage to your teeth. Dental fillings help prevent that future damage, as well as the discomfort it could bring!
How many cavities can a dentist fill at once? Most dentists will not perform more than 4 fillings in one sitting. Technically there is no limit to home many fillings can be given at a time.
It can take as long as five years from the time a cavity begins to develop to when the tooth needs treatment to prevent the cavity from spreading further. For some people, though, that period can be as short as a few months.
Gold fillings are the most durable lasting up to 20 years. Amalgam and ceramic fillings can give you excellent service for approximately 15 years. Glass ionomer fillings are brittle and last for less than five years. Composite fillings are stronger and last for about seven years.
If the pain is so severe that you can't wait for a regularly scheduled appointment, it may be a dental emergency. Likewise, if you notice swelling in your face or pus around the tooth, immediate dental treatment is needed. In some cases, decay can lead to a broken tooth that's sharp.