Sometimes when having a dental issue, it can be hard to determine if it qualifies as a dental emergency and if it requires the attention of an emergency dentist near you. This happens because people aren’t formally educated in this regard and don’t have the knowledge to distinguish more severe problems that require immediate care from the ones that don’t. Cavities are a gray area in this regard since this condition is broad and has different degrees of severity. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about cavities and when it is necessary to look for emergency dental care in Calgary.
What are cavities?
Your teeth have different layers, with the most external one being the enamel. Cavities are damaged areas of this layer that cause a weak spot in your tooth. Also, the damage is permanent so it can’t be reversed without the care of a dentist near you. When left untreated, they can progress and little by little they start affecting deeper tissues in your teeth. This way, a simple weak spot on the surface of your tooth can progress until it affects its blood vessels and nerve. In some cases, cavities can even lead to a dental abscess.
Why do dental cavities happen?
At some point in your life, you must have been told to brush your teeth otherwise you would get cavities. This recommendation is spot-on since the main reason for tooth decay is lacking oral health habits. The reason why we brush our teeth and floss is to get rid of all the plaque, bacteria and food that build up in our mouths. Normally, the bacteria in your mouth consumes the sugars they can find and transforms them into acid that starts to erode your enamel. This is why it is vital to get rid of the plaque that starts to form after having a meal or even drinking something sugary.
Thus, the best way to prevent cavities is by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily and having routine checkups at a dental clinic in Calgary. Your oral health will keep the plaque at bay so your teeth won’t be damaged, and going to the dentist will make it possible to identify if you have any cavities from a very early stage.
When are cavities considered a dental emergency?
As previously stated, cavities are not all the same and they have different degrees of severity depending on which tissues are compromised. In the first stages of tooth decay, there are very few symptoms and the only way of knowing you have a cavity is by being examined by a dentist. However, as the infection progresses the symptoms start to appear with the most frequent ones being mild tooth pain and tooth sensitivity. At this point, the cavity isn’t a dental emergency but it’s a good idea to visit a dental office in Calgary and receive treatment to avoid complications.
When people neglect their cavities and leave them untreated, they can progress further, compromising the vitality of your tooth. At this point, cavities are a dental emergency that requires immediate care. Swelling and severe tooth pain that doesn’t improve after taking pain relievers are signs of these more complicated cases. Also, having a fever is not a good sign since it most likely means that you have a dental abscess which also requires the care of an emergency dentist.
As you can see, it all depends on the progress of tooth decay. However, this doesn’t mean that you should wait until you can’t delay it any further to finally go to the dentist. Taking care of your cavities in the early stages is much easier and less painful.