How Dental Problems Worsen Over Time

If you want to avoid a complicated dental restoration, you should see your dentist as soon as possible if you are worried about your oral health. Your teeth are durable, but if a cavity forms, dental intervention is needed to stop it. Other problems, like bruxism, can cause increasing damage the longer it is left unaddressed. One way many people manage to avoid letting problems worsen is by seeing their dentist semiannually for checkups. These checkups are your dentist’s opportunity to find out if any problems are forming on your teeth.

Bruxism Can Cause Serious Damage To Teeth

Do you find yourself waking up with sore teeth, or a sore jaw? Do you notice yourself clenching your jaw reflexively? These are indicators of bruxism. If you suffer from bruxism, you may not realize how often you grind your teeth. You may not even realize that you are doing it at all, as it tends to occur while you sleep. Over time, the pressure from pressing your upper and lower teeth against each other can cause damage, to the point that a tooth may need a dental crown.

An Advanced Cavity Can Spread Beyond The Affected Tooth

If you catch it early enough, your dentist only needs to use a filling to restore your tooth after a cavity has been removed. If you wait, the treatment may not be so simple. If your treatment is too prolonged, a cavity can destroy the nerves in your tooth, and even spread by passing through your tooth root. A root canal must occur to save a tooth with an infection that has penetrated its inner chamber.