By Elyse Brumfield, RDH
Supervised and Edited by Dr. Levy Do, DDS

Imagine this scenario: You wake up one morning with a throbbing pain in your mouth. You look in the mirror and see a dark spot on one of your teeth. You realize that it’s a cavity that you’ve been ignoring for months. You reach for your phone and call your dentist, hoping to get an appointment as soon as possible. But when you hear the receptionist’s voice, you freeze. You remember that you haven’t been to the dentist in over a year. You feel a surge of guilt and shame. You hang up the phone and try to ignore the pain.

Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Many people avoid going to the dentist for various reasons, such as fear, cost, or lack of time. But what they don’t realize is that by waiting or skipping their preventive dental care, they are putting their oral health and their overall well-being at risk.

I Just Need a Regular Cleaning

It is easy to look at your teeth and say, “they aren’t that dirty; I will just need a regular cleaning.” In fact, you used to go to the dentist every 6 months and each time you went, you only needed a routine cleaning. You’ve only missed an appointment or two, so what would be different this time?

That “regular” cleaning is known as known as a preventative prophylaxis. Its main purpose is to clean up your teeth and remove the build up that hoards bacteria for the prevention of getting periodontal disease.

Tartar build up on lower front teeth around retainer.

When people look at their teeth in the mirror, they only see the surface. And most of the time, they can only see the front of their teeth. When we take intraoral pictures for our patients, even those who come every 6 months religiously, they are shocked by what they see. We tend to miss the back sides of our teeth when brushing, so there could be stains and calcified bacteria called tartar stuck to the teeth that you didn’t even know what there! No toothbrush or floss can remove tartar once it has formed and now there is the beginning of gum disease.

Once there is disease present, you are no longer able to prevent it because you cannot prevent something you already have. At this point you no longer qualify for “regular cleanings” and need a specialized gingival therapy cleaning for gum disease, called a Scaling and Root Planning (SRP), also called a “Deep Cleaning,” costing more than you originally planned.

It’s Just a Small Cavity

Sometimes when you go to the dentist, you might hear the dreaded words, “You have a cavity.” Maybe you did not brush or floss as much between appointments this time; maybe you had more sodas, chips, and sugary snacks; or maybe your enamel is just genetically thinner on your teeth, making it easier for bacteria to dig a hole in the grooves. Whatever the reason, it is an annoyance to have to pay for something, especially if you can’t feel it and it is not sensitive….yet. So, you decide you will wait until your next appointment in 6 months and then think about getting it filled. After all, you could use that money for that vacation coming up!

A cavity on the side of a molar tooth has spread into the dentin and to the nerve of the tooth.

Unfortunately, there is no magical timer to let us know how long that cavity will stay that size. Just because it does not hurt, does not mean it hasn’t caused more damage to the tooth than we can see with our eyes.

In fact, once the bacteria has dug a hole through the enamel, it can reach the softest part of the tooth, the dentin and spread, like water in a sponge! If left alone, it the bacteria can then spread, causing you to need a crown over the whole tooth, or worse, a filling into the nerve canal at the middle of the tooth, needing a root canal treatment.

Other examples include:

A suspicious lesion that can be biopsied and removed with a minor procedure may turn into oral cancer that requires a more aggressive and costly treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. And if left untreated, it can lead to disfigurement, disability, or death.

A decayed or missing tooth that affects your appearance and confidence may cause you to lose out on opportunities in your personal or professional life. You may feel embarrassed to smile, speak, or eat in front of others. You may avoid social situations or networking events. You may miss out on a promotion or a raise at work. You may lose the chance to meet someone special or to enjoy life with your loved ones.
A painful or infected tooth that prevents you from eating or sleeping properly may affect your overall health and quality of life. You may suffer from weight loss, insomnia, or depression. You may have difficulty concentrating or performing at work or school. You may have lower energy levels or mood swings. You may have less enjoyment of your hobbies or passions.

It Costs How Much?!

Delaying or avoiding dental treatment results in increased costs in the long run. This is because dental problems tend to worsen over time and can eventually lead to more complex and expensive procedures. For example, that small cavity that was left untreated can turn into a root canal or tooth extraction if the decay spreads to the tooth pulp or the root. Similarly, gum disease that is left untreated can lead to tooth loss, which then requires expensive dental implants or bridges. Additionally, delaying dental treatment can result in the need for emergency dental care, which can be more expensive than routine procedures. Dental problems can affect overall health and lead to more severe medical conditions, which can result in higher healthcare costs. It's important to seek dental treatment as soon as possible to prevent small problems from becoming bigger and more costly issues in the future.

The cost of waiting can be financial, emotional, and physical. These are just some of the potential costs of waiting. But the good news is that you can avoid them by taking charge of your oral health today and scheduling your preventive dental care appointment with us at Pine Cove Dental. We care about you and we want to help you avoid the cost of waiting.

The Price of Waiting