Diagnosing a condition without proof of dental x-rays or a mirror is very common with cavity scams. If your dentist gives you a creative diagnosis and recommends costly procedures without evidence of why you need them, consider seeking a second opinion.
Common dental mistakes include removing too much tooth structure or filling a cavity on the wrong tooth. Mistakes that can be made during a dental procedure include removing too much tooth structure or filling a cavity with too much material.
However, these errors do happen and sometimes the patient can be injured as a result or may require extensive future dental work to fix the problem. If a dentist makes a mistake and the patient is significantly or permanently damaged as a result, it can affect every area of their life.
Dental fillings are used as a restorative measure in teeth that have been affected by decay or damage. It is a common procedure and most fillings are carried out without any issues, but sometimes dentists may perform the treatment poorly, which can lead to a number of problems as a result.
A dental office that takes X-rays without knowing your oral health is not adhering to the ALARA principle. A dentist that takes extensive X-rays without reviewing your dental health and history does not have your well-being top of mind and is likely to perform other unnecessary dental procedures.
Dental problems include cavities, tooth erosion, gum infections, and gum diseases. They can cause pain and discomfort, may affect a person's ability to eat, and may have a negative impact on an individual's self-esteem.
Patients who avoid flossing often have swollen, red gums that bleed almost as soon as their appointment begins. Bleeding gums are unhealthy gums and may be a sign of gum disease. Similarly to flossing, your dental team will also be able to tell if you don't brush your teeth often enough or even if you brush too hard.
In short, the answer is no. Dental fillings are used to treat cavities because a dentist tends to want to remove the decayed part (the cavity) and fill it to stop any further damage from occurring. While there aren't ways to remove a cavity without using a filling, there are ways almost to reverse the decay.
They're not here to judge you.
As health professionals, dentists aren't interested in judging you or making you feel bad. All they really care about is your oral health.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease.
Dentists probably aren't even aware of whether patients have their eyes open or closed, or if they have one eye open and one eye closed. All that really matters is that dentists keep their eyes open. And get a good night's sleep before using that drill.
If you have a bad feeling, walk away. Dentists are there to help you, they should not be pressuring you. You can always come back if you decide you are overreacting, but with something that can potentially put you out of pocket for a large sum of money, it's best to trust your instincts.
#1 Abscess Tooth:
For most people and abscess tooth comes with a considerable amount of pain. But, we see cases where people have likely had an abscess for months and had no idea about the potential severity of the infection.
Cavities (Tooth Decay)
Although cavities are largely preventable, they are one of the most common chronic diseases throughout the lifespan. Untreated tooth decay can lead to abscess (a severe infection) under the gums which can spread to other parts of the body and have serious, and in rare cases fatal, results.
A mark of a good dentist is being able to give treatment in a way that minimizes a patient's pain. Poor dentists will not worry about minimizing a patient's pain and will be much rougher in administering routine care like cleanings or giving shots.
Can you have both NHS and private dentists? Yes, patients are allowed to have a mix of both NHS and private dental treatments.
The reason patients typically don't experience pain with simple cavities is because there is no nerve supply in enamel or dentin. We always strive to stop cavities while they are still small and manageable!
An X-ray of the aching tooth can help identify an abscess. Your dentist may also use X-rays to determine whether the infection has spread, causing abscesses in other areas.
Even if you feel like you are strong enough to handle a little bit of discomfort, your dentist can still tell that you are in pain. The eyes have a tendency to flinch and clench when you are hurting. Your tongue and legs can tense up as well.
Good communicator. A successful dentist has a keen ability to distill complex procedures and processes into simple language so that the patient can understand exactly what is going on in his or her mouth and any procedures that the dentist suggests.