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.
If a cavity goes untreated for two years or longer, severe damage to the tooth is likely. You will notice discoloration around the tooth, swelling around the gums, and severe pain and sensitivity. The bacteria will probably have damaged the tooth root and pulp at this point. You may lose the tooth.
However, if it reaches the tooth's center chamber, called the pulp, a filling may no longer suffice to address it.
Deep filling – If the hole is deep and close to the pulp, the dentist has to place a filling which will be very close to the pulp. If the filling is too close to the nerve, it may get infected slowly. Dentists can't predict the time frame for the tooth to become infected.
The majority of deep fillings can be treated successfully without resulting in sensitivity and do not require root canal treatments. Please do not hesitate to contact your dentist for further information regarding the treatment of a deep cavity.
If a dentist drills too deep, he or she might cut through the bottom of the tooth. This can create an infection, swelling, and failure of the procedure. A failed root canal may lead to loss of the tooth, damage to the jaw bone, and gum issues.
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.
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. That's not good. Really not good.
If your tooth has decay to the enamel or dentin, a simple filling is enough to repair the cavity. However, if the cavity is left untreated, the decay will reach the deepest layer of the tooth, the nerve tissue. At this point, a root canal is necessary to repair the tooth.
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.
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.
On average, as a broad timeline, it can take anywhere from six months to four or five years before a cavity needs treatment. The conditions of your mouth change daily. Conclusion: a cavity can start to form, then not have the right conditions to develop.
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.
Change in daily routine: If you weren't getting cavities before and now you are, it's highly likely that something in your life has changed that's causing the sudden onset. Consider lifestyle factors like diet, stress, starting school or a new job, and new habits.
Dental pain does not necessarily indicate it's too late to address the issue, but delaying treatment can lead to severe consequences. By recognizing the early signs of a cavity, seeking professional dental care, and maintaining regular checkups, you can stay proactive in preventing and treating cavities.
In minor cases, cavities can be treated with fillings, but a root canal might be necessary in more severe cases.
Cavities filled without the drill
“A clear resin is injected into the tooth and fills in the cavity in order to stop it from getting bigger.” Resin infiltration is particularly effective at repairing what dentists call “white spot lesions” on the front teeth.
As part of the process for fitting dental implants, holes are drilled into the jaw, and if the dentist mistakenly drills too far, this could result in nerve damage. Another way that this procedure can cause nerve damage is if the implant itself is longer than it should be, so presses on the tooth nerve once in place.
Another standard is the width of the filling. Some say that a filling shouldn't be any wider than ⅓ of the distance between the cusps (high points) of a tooth. Others allow for up to 50% of this distance.
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.
Causes of Sudden Cavities
Cavities that develop quickly and unexpectedly may be the result of: Sudden Dietary Changes: You might have changed your diet in some way, including drinking more soda, adding more sugar to your coffee, eating more starchy or acidic foods, or consuming more sweets.