Like most ailments, the longer you leave a cavity without treatment, the worse it's going to get. In a span of 3-6 months cavities can reach the nerve of your tooth. That's not good.2020-11-19
Can I wait a few months to fill a cavity?
So if you have a cavity that needs a filling, don't delay treatment. The decay can continue to develop and cause additional damage to a tooth. You can end up needing something much more extensive, not to mention expensive, such as a root canal if you wait too long to have the decay addressed.2017-12-04
What happens if you wait too long to fill a cavity?
The longer a cavity is allowed to progress, the more extensive the damage is likely to be. If tooth decay continues without professional treatment, it can cause an abscess and even lead to tooth loss. Fortunately, your dentist can easily treat tooth decay if it is in its early stages.2020-01-06
Do cavities need to be filled immediately?
Is a dental filling always required to treat a cavity? In short, the answer is no. Dental fillings are used to treat cavities because a dentist tends to want to remove the decayed part (the cavity) and fill it to stop any further damage from occurring.2019-01-16
Can you wait 6 months to fill a cavity?
As a broad timeline, on average, it can take anywhere from six months to four or five years before a cavity needs treatment. The conditions of your mouth change daily. A cavity can start to form, then not have the right conditions to develop ultimately.2020-12-01
Is it ever too late to fill a cavity?
Once bacteria have entered your tooth, it may be too late for a filling because we will need to prevent or treat an existing infection. However, it's never too late for dental care!2018-03-06
At what point can a cavity not be fixed?
If the decay reaches your tooth's main structure, called dentin, then a filling can replace the lost tooth structure after your dentist has cleaned the cavity of bacteria and infection. However, if it reaches the tooth's center chamber, called the pulp, a filling may no longer suffice to address it.2017-10-09
When is it too late to fill a cavity?
Once bacteria have entered your tooth, it may be too late for a filling because we will need to prevent or treat an existing infection. However, it's never too late for dental care!2018-03-06