You visit the dentist to find out that after the x-rays have been completed, you have a cavity in one of your teeth. This can certainly be an annoying experience. Most people are confused by this diagnosis, especially if they haven’t experienced any pain to that point, but oftentimes a cavity might not be painful and within this post, we’ll explain three of the possible reasons a patient might not experience cavity pain.
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- Pain Might go Away Due to Tissue Damage
One of the more alarming reasons why tooth pain might quickly diminish over time is tissue damage. Sometimes, a tooth might hurt for a short period of time before the pain eventually subsides. This should not be taken as a sign that there’s no need to visit the dentist. More likely, the problem has caused significant damage to the nerve tissue surrounding the tooth. This means that the nerves are not getting the signals there’s a cavity in the tooth, and so there’s little pain experienced by the patient. Over time, this can cause many serious complications and is a clear reason it’s so important to visit a dentist the moment any tooth pain is experienced.
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- The Cavity Might Not Have Reached the Nerve
There are many cases where the cavity is not deep enough to be impacted by the nerves in and around the tooth. This is the ideal time to have the cavity repaired by the dentist. Repairing a cavity at this early stage of the tooth erosion process can be simple for the dentist and can ensure that patients don’t experience any future pain as a result of the issue. Once the problem progresses to the dentin and the pulp within the tooth, that’s when the majority of the pain will be felt by the patient.
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- The Cavity Could be Exceptionally Small
Smaller, deep cavities are among the most dangerous to the patient’s overall oral health. These small holes within the tooth pulp can quickly begin to cause an infection if left untreated, but the problem is often imperceptible due to the smaller size of the hole. This means patients may only discover the issue when their tooth becomes infected and a root canal or extraction is required. By simply acting quickly and following the dentist’s instructions, patients can mitigate the lasting problems smaller cavities can cause.
Our expert team has years of experience helping to treat patients with challenging cavities. To learn more, contact our offices directly today!