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.
Yes, you still need a tooth filling even if your tooth doesn't hurt. The cavity may not hurt now, but the thing about tooth decay is that it doesn't go away on its own. You can go for a while without feeling any pain, but while you're waiting, the decay is spreading and damaging more of your tooth.
Pain or sensitivity in the tooth when you touch it or put pressure on it (e.g. when eating, brushing) A visible hole in the tooth or mark that might indicate a hole exists. Dental floss that keeps fraying when you floss between a particular set of teeth.
Decay can eat away at the enamel and you may not feel anything at all. It's only when the decay pierces through the enamel and starts working on your dentin that pain really starts to set in. Dentin is the inwards part of your tooth.
The good news is that if your cavity is small enough, you probably don't need to have it filled. Since tooth decay is a slowly-progressing problem, catching cavities in their early stages can save you from needing a filling.
Generally, if the cavity has progressed past the enamel, or gives you pain or sensitivity, your dentist will need to remove the cavity in order to prevent the decay from spending.
So if you have a cavity that needs a filling, don't delay treatment. The decay can continue to develop and cause additional damage to a tooth. You can end up needing something much more extensive, not to mention expensive, such as a root canal if you wait too long to have the decay addressed.
What Does a Cavity Feel Like? Your tooth enamel doesn't have any nerve endings, so if the decay is just on the surface you might not feel anything. If the damage gets down through the enamel, deeper into the inner layer or dentin, you're more likely to: Feel a toothache or feel pain when eating, drinking or biting down.
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. No two mouths are unique, so there is no standard timeline for the development of cavities.
Left untreated, a cavity can result in an abscessed tooth. If allowed to get this far, a cavity will result in loss of tooth structure and become more easily breakable. Abscessed teeth typically need root canals in order to save them.
Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits can help you avoid cavities and tooth decay. Sealants and fluoride treatments can also assist to prevent a cavity from forming. Taking proper care of your mouth and teeth can help eliminate the need for a dental filling.
Why do people get dental fillings, and how common is it to need one? According to the CDC, 92% of US adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have had dental cavities in their permanent teeth, a problem that requires a filling. As such, the procedure is a common one.
Usually, a filling will last anywhere from 7-20 years, although this depends on the location of the filling, the size, and your dental hygiene. Fillings put up with a lot of stress! Every time you chew, your filling is compromised.
What Happens When You Refuse Dental Fillings? Your tooth enamel has suffered irreversible damage after tooth decay damaged it. Leave the cavity untreated the corrosion spreads and worsens, destroying healthy parts of the tooth.
Tooth fillings are used to treat dental decay in common cases, but your dentist will be able to tell you if you need fillings or not.
For all the good brushing does, it will not eliminate the cavity. The bottom line is you do not have the power to stop your cavity from growing. Your cavity will gradually expand to the point that it moves into the pulp chamber and spurs pain. If the cavity reaches the pulp of the tooth, it will require a root canal.
If your cavity hurts, it's not too late to save your tooth. When cavities are small, they tend not to hurt too much, but they'll start to cause pain as they grow. That's usually when you notice them.
Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.
What Does a Cavity Look Like? While it is usually difficult to see a cavity in its beginning stages, some cavities start with a whitish or chalky appearance on the enamel of your tooth. More serious cases can have a discolored brown or black color. However, most often there are no distinguishable red alerts.
Cavities between teeth are rarely seen without X-rays unless they are very large or when teeth break. The following pictures are the same teeth in the X-rays above: Once cavities are exposed, it is not surprising that they are always larger than they look in X-rays.
There is no single number of how many times you can have a filling replaced. Usually, we will stop replacing the dental filling after the hole becomes too large. Once you have more filling material than natural tooth material your tooth no longer holds enough strength.
In general, a filling takes an hour or less. A simple filling may take as few as 20 minutes. Many dental offices now have the technology to make onlays and inlays in one appointment, though a larger filling or multiple fillings can take longer.
Different Cavities, Different Solutions
Not all cavities need filling. Small ones, or those that aren't posting any serious risk or causing pain, can usually be left alone. They may require filling in the future, but can be monitored over time to ascertain the best option.