If a cavity doesn't hurt, is it better not to treat it?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on November 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

Cavities are primarily caused by poor oral hygiene and the effects of bacteria in the mouth, among other factors, leading to chronic progressive destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth. Generally, the progression is slow, initially appearing as yellowish-brown spots or defects on the tooth surface without causing any pain symptoms, making the treatment fairly straightforward—simply removing the decay and filling it can often be completed in one session. However, many cavities are not treated during this optimal period and progress to the dentin, causing sensitivity to hot and cold and leading to toothache. If not treated promptly, the cavity will enlarge, and in severe cases, lead to pulp infection, causing spontaneous pain, episodic pain, and pain from temperature stimuli. At this stage, the treatment becomes more complex and painful, requiring root canal therapy, typically needing three to four follow-up visits, and thus, costing more than a simple one-time treatment. If the condition is not controlled, it may develop into apical periodontitis or apical abscess, leading to space infections. The treatment then becomes even more complicated and painful, requiring incision and drainage, along with systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. If the tooth is severely damaged, the remaining roots and crowns can become a focal point for bacterial infection, potentially inducing other diseases. Therefore, it is crucial to detect and treat cavities early—the smaller the cavity, the better the treatment outcome, also saving time and money.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 17sec home-news-image

If the cavity doesn't hurt, does that mean it hasn't reached the nerve?

It is necessary to make judgments based on the patient's symptoms and examination results. Dental caries refers to the chronic, progressive, destructive disease occurring in the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of various factors such as plaque bacteria. Whether dental caries is painless or has reached the nerve, the simplest clinical method is to judge based on the patient's symptoms, asking whether the patient experiences pain. In the early stages, there are only changes in the color and texture of the tooth, which do not cause pain. In the later stages of the disease, due to necrosis of the dental pulp, pain may not occur. At this time, diagnosis can be assisted by dental films; an X-ray can show the low-density shadow produced by the caries, and whether this low-density area significantly erodes into the dental pulp, which is also an auxiliary diagnostic method. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene, brush teeth morning and evening, and rinse mouth after meals.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
1min 1sec home-news-image

Does removing a cavity-affected tooth have any impact?

Cavities, also commonly referred to as tooth decay, can impact daily life depending on the situation. Generally, if the cavity is not severe, extraction is not necessary, and treatment should be attempted if possible. However, extraction can be harmful, as it creates a gap. The teeth adjacent to this gap can be affected, leading to tilting towards the gap or becoming loose, which may impact how the teeth come together when biting. The body has a protective mechanism that can automatically close this space, but although this closes the gap, it may destabilize the overall bite alignment and function, potentially affecting the temporomandibular joint function. Therefore, if tooth decay occurs, it is advised to seek prompt treatment at a formal dental hospital or a major hospital’s dental pulp department, where the decayed and necrotic tissue can be removed and the cavity filled to restore the shape of the tooth crown and some of the biting function.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
46sec home-news-image

How to prevent cavities in children

Prevention of tooth decay in children should first encourage them to develop good tooth-brushing habits, reducing bacteria and plaque on the tooth surface, and include brushing in the morning and evening, as well as rinsing after meals. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body but is susceptible to cracking. Acidic or sugary substances are harmful to teeth, so it's best to avoid sweets and acidic foods in the evening and to brush teeth before going to bed. Brushing teeth before sleeping is crucial and some anti-cavity treatments should be done, such as fluoride application or dental sealants. It's also important to develop a habit of regular dental check-ups to detect and treat cavities early.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
1min 2sec home-news-image

What will happen if tooth decay is not treated?

If dental caries are not treated, they may further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis, causing severe pain. When apical periodontitis occurs, it may sometimes lead to a space infection, which is facial swelling. If the inflammation is not controlled in time, it may also cause osteomyelitis of the jawbone. Therefore, dental caries need to be treated as early as possible. Dental caries are caused by bacterial infections that lead to the decay of the hard tissues of the teeth; in the early stages of decay, using a drill to stop the development of the disease—namely, timely filling—can effectively control the further progression of dental caries. If dental caries further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerves, it can lead to pain while eating or sleeping, sometimes waking from sleep due to pain, and in severe cases, it can cause facial swelling.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
48sec home-news-image

Can a decayed tooth be extracted?

Whether a tooth with caries can be extracted depends on the extent of the decay. If the decay is shallow, it can be treated with a one-time filling. If the decay is deep, reaching the nerve, nerve-killing treatment is required, followed by anti-inflammation measures and, after inflammation control, root canal filling. In other words, teeth should be preserved through root canal treatment whenever possible and not extracted. If the caries has reached the deep layers of the tooth dentin, or is at risk of causing a perforation, such conditions are considered non-salvageable and the tooth should be promptly extracted. After extraction, timely dental prosthetics should be placed.