Once bacteria have entered your tooth, it may be too late for a filling because we will need to prevent or treat an existing infection. However, it's never too late for dental care!
If the decay reaches your tooth's main structure, called dentin, then a filling can replace the lost tooth structure after your dentist has cleaned the cavity of bacteria and infection. However, if it reaches the tooth's center chamber, called the pulp, a filling may no longer suffice to address it.
If your cavity hurts, it's not too late for a dentist 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.
Our recommendation is that you wait no longer than 3 days to see our dentists. This advice still goes even if you have mild tooth pain. Our dentists do leave time open in their schedules for urgent matters so we should be able to get you in for a visit soon after you call.
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.
The hole can eventually reach the layer of dentin beneath your enamel, causing severe pain and sensitivity. The cavity can also extend to the root of your tooth, causing an infection. If the infection is left untreated, it can lead to abscesses and bone loss, and in rare cases, it may become life-threatening.
Cavities don't go away on their own, and if you don't treat them in time, they can spread to the entire surface of the tooth, and then to other teeth. Cavities tend to widen and deepen, making your teeth brittle and more prone to cracking or breaking.
If your tooth needs a filling, then waiting too long to treat it could lead to more severe decay within the tooth's structure.
While it's not ideal to delay treatment for any dental issue, including caries, in some cases, it may be possible to wait for a short period of time. If the cavity is small and not causing any pain or discomfort, and you are practicing good oral hygiene habits, waiting for two months may not cause any significant harm.
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.
However, if the cavity is too big for a filling, our dentists will recommend a porcelain crown to strengthen the tooth. Once a cavity reaches a certain size, our dentists won't be able to drill out the decayed tooth matter without compromising the structural integrity of your tooth.
Can a deep cavity be filled? Yes, a deep cavity can be filled. The dentist will first remove the decay inside the cavity to prevent further damage to the tooth. The dentist then places the filling into the decayed part to repair the damaged part of the tooth.
Recurrent decay is tooth decay that forms under existing fillings and crowns because of leakage around the dental restorations. Constant pressure from chewing or stress from grinding and clenching can cause fillings to crack, chip or wear away. These problems leave gaps and allow bacteria to get under the filling.
The nerves that allow you to feel your teeth also live in this area. As the cavity gets worse, the bacteria will infect the tooth pulp and tooth root, and can kill the tooth. If a cavity goes untreated for a year, the tooth may die. The tooth will probably feel painful, sore, and may feel brittle or loose.
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.
Can cavities go away with brushing? A common question we receive from children and parents is, “can you brush away a cavity?” Once a cavity is fully formed in the tooth, unfortunately, it's impossible to just improve your brushing and make it go away.
Lack of a Nutritional Diet. Feeding the bacteria inside your mouth with their favorite foods will lead to multiplication, wreaking more havoc on your oral health. Bacteria feast off of sticky foods, which can stick to your teeth's surfaces and produce acid. Acidic pH can eventually deteriorate your teeth's enamel.
From this unique experiment we have discovered that coke cola rots teeth the fastest. Apple juice came 2nd because Apple juice has natural sugars which rot teeth.
Foods that cling to your teeth for a long time — such as milk, ice cream, honey, sugar, soda, dried fruit, cake, cookies, hard candy and mints, dry cereal, and chips — are more likely to cause decay than foods that are easily washed away by saliva.
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.
Few people make it through life without at least one cavity. Cavities are the result of tooth decay, and everyone is at some risk. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize your risk.
In most cases, by the time you notice the symptoms of tooth decay, it will be too late to reverse the damage with natural methods. You will need to consult your dentist to prevent the damage from spreading to other areas of the tooth.