Why Waiting Too Long Makes Your Tooth Problems Worse
Don’t wait for the ache.
When something doesn’t hurt that bad, we tend to put it on the back burner. If it isn’t a major ache, it can wait, right? Wrong! When it comes to dental health, the wait-and-see approach is often the most expensive and painful mistake a patient can make. At Dixon, Boles & Associates, we believe that understanding the progression of dental problems is the first step toward maintaining a healthy, lifelong smile.
Small tooth problems, like a slight sensitivity to cold water, a slight snag when you floss, or a dull ache that disappears after a few minutes, all seem harmless. Because they don’t disrupt your daily life immediately, it’s easy to delay care. However, unlike a strained muscle or a common cold, dental problems are unique. They do not heal on their own, and time is the greatest enemy of your teeth.
Why Tooth Issues Rarely Fix Themselves
The human body is remarkable at self repair, but your teeth are a notable exception. The outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, is the hardest substance in your body, but it lacks living cells that can regenerate. Once enamel is eroded away by acid or compromised by a chip or crack, the structural integrity is lost forever.
The progression of dental decay is a downward spiral. What starts as a microscopic hole in the enamel will eventually eat through to the dentin layer of the tooth, which is the soft layer below the enamel. Once decay hits the dentin, it spreads much faster towards the nerve.
For cracks, what starts as a small line or minor crack can expand every time you chew. Over time, the crack deepens and eventually spits the tooth and reaches the pulp, or center of the tooth.
If you have an infection, it’s time to worry. Bacteria can enter a tooth, and they don’t just stay put. They multiply, creating an abscess at the root tip that can spread to the jaw bone and even the blood stream.
What Happens When Treatment is Delayed
The consequences of procrastination in dentistry are predictable and tiring. As you wait, pain, risk, and cost are almost all certain to increase.
In the early stages of a cavity, you may not feel any pain or sensitivity, but by the time you experience a sharp pain or reaction to heat and cold, the problem has likely reached the nerve. Dental pain is often described as some of the most intense physical discomfort a person can endure. And a neglected cavity is an open door to bacteria. When bacteria reach the dental pulp, an infection happens. This can lead to a painful dental abscess, and if left untreated, these infections can lead to facial swelling and, in rare cases, systemic health issues.
When left to their own devices, dental issues can become more involved and costly when it comes to the treatment. A small cavity can be fixed with a simple, affordable filling. If you wait until the tooth hurts, you may need a root canal and a crown. If you wait until the tooth breaks or becomes severely infected, you could face a tooth extraction and may need a dental implant. The cost difference between a small filling and a dental implant can be thousands of dollars.
Common Tooth Problems People Put Off
There are several dental issues patients tend to ignore until they become emergencies. A minor cavity can be fixed with a simple filling, but if you wait, it could turn into a root canal or the tooth may have to be extracted. A cracked tooth can be fixed with a crown or by using dental bonding, but if you wait, the entire tooth may have to be extracted. For those who suffer from gum issues, a professional cleaning is one of your first defenses, but if you wait, it could lead to periodontitis and even bone loss. If you are experiencing lingering tooth pain, stop by Dixon, Boles & Associates for a dental evaluation and dental X-rays to diagnose the issue.
Early care makes a difference.
Choosing to address a dental concern the moment it arises can change the entire experience of your visit to the dentist. Early care often offers simpler treatment options, better comfort, better outcomes for your teeth, and, of course, financial savings. Often, if you wait to address a small dental issue, it can turn into a major dental problem, where the treatment can be more invasive and expensive.
Schedule your visit at the first sign of trouble.
If you notice even a slight toothache, a rough spot on one tooth, or if you haven’t been in to see your dentist within the last calendar year, it’s time to make an appointment to see the team at Dixon, Boles & Associates. We specialize in modern dental care for families in Wilson, NC, and provide compassionate care to all of our patients. Your smile is an investment, so protect it by scheduling an appointment today!
