One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a dental care patient is assuming that if your dental problem doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t have to be treated right away. This is a very unfortunate misconception, and one that can cost you big time. From cavities to swollen gums, here are some leading reasons why delaying dental treatment is a bad idea:
#1 Most Dental Problems Don’t Resolve On Their Own
While very early tooth decay and mild gingivitis have the potential to be reversed with better dental hygiene at home, when it comes to other issues within your mouth, it is more likely to worsen over time – not get better. This is especially true with dental infections or tooth fractures, as these concerns need professional and interventional attention from your dentist to resolve.
#2 Dental Problems Can Exist Without Pain
Unfortunately, your mouth doesn’t always wave a red flag of pain when there is something that needs attention. In fact, there are some dental problems that begin without any symptoms at all. This makes routine dental visits even more important, as x-rays are designed to detect problems before they present themselves in unwanted ways.
While you may experience undeniable pain when you have a dental abscess or severe cavity, when the issue doesn’t affect the inner tooth nerves, you may not be uncomfortable. However, if you suspect that your teeth or gums are compromised in any way with a change in the way they look or feel, don’t put off a visit to your dentist. Even small hairline cracks that do not produce pain need to be fixed by your dentist, as your tooth is left vulnerable to more serious (and more painful) dental problems.
#3 Delaying Treatment Can Be More Expensive
Many patients avoid or delay dental treatments due to cost. Unfortunately, due to the likelihood of the issue getting worse over time, these patients end up spending much more on their dental care when they wait. For example, a small cavity that can be treated with a simple dental filling can progress into decay that reaches the center of the tooth. Now, a root canal and dental crown is required to save the tooth. In more serious cases, waiting to treat dental issues can result in a loss of your tooth, which means costly dental implants in the future!
At Gilreath Family Dental, we value the importance of preventing dental problems from the start. However, when dental concerns arise, we want to treat them early with the most conservative therapies possible. Whether you need a filling, deep cleaning or root canal, don’t deprive your smile of the attention it needs. Instead of putting off treatment, schedule your visit with us today! If you are unsure how long your dental problem can wait for treatment, do not hesitate to ask us and we can give you a safe timeline for your dental treatment plan.
Posted on behalf of Dr. Paul Gilreath IV,
