What happens if I don t fix cavities?
When decay damages a tooth, the destruction to the enamel is irreversible. If the cavity is left untreated, the decay can spread and worsen, destroying healthy parts of the tooth. And if enough time goes by, your dentist won’t be able to repair the tooth with a conventional filling at all . . .
Why do dentists need to replace cavities in children?
Teeth with cavities between them, even with decay removal and fillings, have a better chance of cavity recurrence than teeth with cavities on exposed surfaces. When decay comes back, the dentist will need to replace the filling to take care of the new decay and re-fill the tooth. Tooth decay is just one reason kids need fillings.
How often should you go to the dentist for cavities?
Trust your gut; if you’ve never had all your cavities your whole life, see the dentist every six months, and have excellent oral hygiene, then it should raise a red flag if a new dentist tells you that you suddenly need twelve fillings. See my guide to Little Known Ways to Make Sure You Never Get Ripped Off at the Dentist.
Who are the only people in know about a dental procedure?
For a medical procedure, any diagnosis will be subject to a lot of review, from doctors to nurses to specialists to other clinic or hospital staff. In dentistry, the only people “in the know” are you (who presumably is not an expert), the staff who work directly for the dentist, and the dentist him or herself.
When to take your child to the dentist for a filling?
Your dentist will drill the tooth decay from your child’s baby teeth as necessary. Depending on how much damage the cavity has caused, the dentist will then fill the tooth or create a crown. Kids should continue using good oral hygiene when caring for fillings or crowns, whether those repairs have been done on baby teeth or on permanent teeth.
How often do dentists fix cavities for kids?
The Number of Fillings in One Sitting Depends on the Kid. When dentists fix cavities for kids, sometimes they do all the cavities at once and sometimes they do only one at a time. The reason for this has to do with the kids, not the cavities. Some children are fine sitting in the chair for long periods of time, while others are not.
Why do dentists need to replace cavities between teeth?
Teeth with cavities between them, even with decay removal and fillings, have a better chance of cavity recurrence than teeth with cavities on exposed surfaces. When decay comes back, the dentist will need to replace the filling to take care of the new decay and re-fill the tooth.
For a medical procedure, any diagnosis will be subject to a lot of review, from doctors to nurses to specialists to other clinic or hospital staff. In dentistry, the only people “in the know” are you (who presumably is not an expert), the staff who work directly for the dentist, and the dentist him or herself.
What was the case of the dentist that sold his practice?
The case was an elderly mother against a dentist in practice for 20 years. The dentist had sold his practice to another dentist, inflating the margins and inflating the value of the practice with procedures that people didn’t need. I had seen this plenty of times before, but this abuse of patient care was egregious.