What happens if a dental cavity is not treated in time?Many people ignore dental cavities but leaving it untreated can create serious health risks. Fortunately, severe tooth damage doesn’t occur overnight and if caught early enough, you can avoid serious harm.
But repeated exposure to sugars and acids will break down tooth enamel. And if you don’t address the decay, well, you’re looking at varying degrees of damage to a tooth (not to mention varying degrees of pain).
Your teeth and cavities
The visible part of the tooth is the crown. It is covered with a layer of tooth enamel which protects the softer tissues and nerves inside your tooth.
Right below the enamel is the dentin that envelopes the pulp. So, when this layer of tooth is exposed, your tooth becomes sensitive hot and cold sensations. The pulp is the heart of the tooth which has the blood vessels and nerves which keep it alive.
Acid produced by the bacteria in the mouth causes tooth decay and keeping the bacteria at bay can help to prevent cavities.
Stages of cavity progression
Cavities, when left untreated, can become worse.
Stage 1: Demineralization
Sugars and acids attack the tooth enamel resulting in chalky white spots – a result of losing calcium and demineralization.
During this stage, the damage can be reversed with the help of good oral hygiene, fluoride treatments and prescription toothpastes.
Stage 2: Enamel Decay
In this stage, the surface enamel continues eroding. Once the decay erodes the surface enamel, you would need a dental filling to halt the action of bacteria and restore a protective layer. A filling done can prevent further damage to the tooth before it moves deeper into the tooth.
Stage 3: Dentin Decay
At this stage, the tooth starts to hurt because the decay has reached deeper into that tooth, to the nerves.
A complex restoration treatment will be needed to prevent the decay from getting to the pulp. Treatment may include a larger composite filling, or an inlay. If the cavity is too large for restoration, a dental crown may be needed to rebuild the entire tooth structure above the gums.
Stage 4: Pulp Decay
At this stage, it’s definitely going hurt. You’ll need a root canal to clean out the infection. Pus may be irritating the tissues, making the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue in the pulp die.
Depending on the severity of the damage, your dentist will clear out the infection in the tooth root. After the root canal treatment is preformed, the canal will be permanently sealed. A crown will be placed to restore the damaged part of your natural crown.
Stage 5: Abscess Formation
This is the final stage where the pulp is damaged. A pus-filled pocket forms at the tip of the tooth’s root. The infection causes swelling and lots of pain.
You’ll need a root canal treatment to save the tooth and/or you might need have surgery to open the abscess and drain it.
To learn more about treatment for chipped or missing teeth, cavities or teeth cleaning, consult the leading Topeka Kansan pediatric dentist, call Covenant Family Dental Care at 785-268-6282 Today. The Covenant Family Dental Care team is committed to providing you a relaxing and positive dental health and care experience.
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