What Happens If A Cavity Is Left Untreated?

At some point in your life, you’ll probably notice a darkened spot on one of your child’s teeth, accompanied by sensitivity in that tooth to very hot or very cold foods and drinks. Your child probably has a cavity! Over 500 million children get a cavity each year worldwide. Go ahead and call your trusted local dentist to schedule an appointment to have it examined and treated. Don’t make the mistake of waiting, or even worse, not having the cavity treated at all. If you’re considering just trying to forget the cavity is there, you will quickly learn that this is a terrible idea. Below we explain why you should never leave a cavity untreated.

Tooth Enamel & Bone are Not Alike

While tooth enamel and bone have many similarities, a key difference is the fact that tooth enamel does not heal or regenerate. Unlike bone, which can heal when broken, tooth enamel never comes back once it begins to decay. This is why having cavities filled promptly is so important.

Potential Risks of Not Treating a Cavity Promptly

Wondering what could happen if you ignore your child’s cavity? Here’s a list of the most common results we see when patients put off having a cavity treated:

Spread to Adjacent Teeth

Tooth decay is pervasive, so once it starts, it will continue to grow and grow until treated. What begins as a tiny spot in one tooth can quickly grow into a massive area of decay that involves multiple teeth.

Damage to the Pulp Chamber

Decay that allows bacteria to get into the tooth’s inner pulp chamber will lead to inflammation, infection, and eventual death of the delicate tissues that make up the dental pulp. This will compromise the roots of the tooth and most likely cause severe pain.

Severe Pain

As mentioned above, cavities can cause severe pain. This is because the tooth is full of nervous tissue, which fires off pain signals when affected by tooth decay and infection. Some people describe tooth pain as the worst pain they’ve ever experienced. Unfortunately, many people wait until they’re in pain before they seek treatment.

Extreme Sensitivity

While one of the initial symptoms of a cavity is sensitivity to extremely hot or cold foods and drinks, as the cavity progresses, the sensitivity will grow. Soon, eating anything will cause the nerves in the affected tooth to act up.

Loss of a Tooth

Once the cavity penetrates the tooth beyond a certain point, there is no saving the tooth and it must be removed. Missing teeth can cause other health issues, so dentists always try to preserve the natural teeth when possible, even if the tooth has to be crowned. Unfortunately, once tooth decay has infected the pulp and roots of the tooth, not much can be done other than an extraction.

Bone Loss

One of the resulting health complications of missing teeth are subsequent bone loss in the jawbone. Without the tooth anchored into the jawbone, some people begin slowly losing bone mass in that area. This makes it difficult to perform a restorative or cosmetic correction in the future and may require a bone graft to fix.

Infection

Perhaps the worst potential risk of neglecting a cavity is the risk of developing an infection. The infection will begin locally in the affected tooth, but can then quickly spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream. Infections can cause a multitude of health problems in the future and can be fatal if left untreated.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cavities

Does filling a cavity hurt?

Since we use a local anesthetic before a cavity treatment, it should not be painful. However, some people are highly sensitive due to the level of decay in the tooth being treated. Always discuss your child’s pain level with the dentist so they can help you find alternative ways to ease discomfort.

Do I have to get silver fillings?

No, we offer tooth-colored composite fillings that look much more natural than old school silver amalgam fillings. Composite fillings are matched so close to your natural teeth that even you will have a hard time spotting them.

Cavity Treatment in Hudson Valley

Cavities are a common occurrence in kids and need to be treated promptly. If you’re in the Hudson Valley area, trust Briarcliff Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics with all your child’s dental care needs. Our expert team has the education, experience, and compassion your child needs to feel comfortable and well cared-for. Schedule an appointment today by calling 914-762-6260 or requesting an appointment online.