Wondering what happens if a cavity is left untreated? Cavities can start out with mild sensitivity, and eventually escalate to sharp, throbbing pain that affects your daily life. They’re a serious problem, and should be treated as early as possible.
Cavities are active infections that are dangerous to leave untreated. An experienced dentist is the only way to effectively treat and prevent cavities.
At AH Dentistry, we can treat your cavity in Pinckney, MI, and the surrounding areas. We’re committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate dental care to Livingston County and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how our dental treatments can help you.
Why Is It Important to See a Dentist for Cavities?
Pain & Sensitivity
Cavities only get worse over time. While they start out small, they can quickly grow, causing the pain and discomfort to increase.
The pain is caused by your outer enamel decaying until it reaches the sensitive layer of dentin underneath. This decay exposes the dentin to painful elements like cold, hot, or spicy, or sweet foods. Eventually, it reaches the tooth’s pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels.
A dental cavity starts out as a sharp pain. As it goes untreated, it becomes a constant throbbing pain that can disrupt your daily life. For this reason, it’s crucial to pursue cavity treatment as soon as you can.
Tooth Loss
Without cavity repair, an untreated cavity can eventually lead to the complete loss of your tooth. As the decay reaches the inner layer of the tooth, it weakens the entire structure, causing a fracture or complete breakage.
If the cavity is caught early enough, a filling is enough to fix it. However, more severe damage requires a crown, while the worst cases require extraction. In this case, a dental implant or bridge can replace the tooth.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess and systemic-wide infection is the most dangerous aspect of a cavity, and it’s life-threatening. If left untreated, the decay reaches the pulp, allowing bacteria from food and drink to infect the nerve and blood vessels inside the tooth. This can lead to an abscess on the tooth root.
As the infection grows, the abscess can cause the jaw, face, and neck to swell. It can eventually spread to other parts of the body by entering the bloodstream. When this happens, the infection can spread to vital organs, leading to systemic health problems and life-threatening sepsis.
The potential for the infection to develop and spread is why cavities aren’t just a small dental issue–they’re a significant problem that requires professional attention.
Affecting Other Teeth
When a tooth cavity gets out of control, the bacterial infection can spread to other teeth, leading to new cavities and further infection. The decay can also reach your gum tissue, leading to gum disease.
For this reason, it’s crucial to take care of a cavity as soon as you notice it. Otherwise, you’re risking the health of all your teeth.
Choose AH Dentistry to Take Care of Your Cavity
A cavity is a serious dental issue, and it’s important to get it treated as soon as you can. The earlier you can get it diagnosed and treated, the less painful, invasive, and expensive the treatment will be.
When treating a cavity, it’s important to work with an experienced dentist who can treat it correctly. At AH Dentistry we’re the top choice for treating a cavity in Pinckney, MI, or the surrounding areas. Our team is committed to excellence, and strives to deliver the best dental care.
Have a cavity you need to get treated? Don’t wait. Call (734) 222-9140 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with our experienced dentists.