What will happen if you insist on not getting a root canal for a cavity?

Written by Li Cui

Dentistry

Updated on January 28, 2025

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When a patient has dental caries, if they insist on not undergoing root canal treatment, it may lead to the exacerbation of tooth decay, damage to the tooth root or gum tissue, and long-term stimulation can cause the gums to shrink, and even lead to tooth loosening and loss.

Therefore, it is recommended that if a patient has dental caries, the best method is to perform some filling restorative treatments. If the decay reaches the nerve of the teeth, it can cause symptoms of nighttime pain, or biting pain, so it is advised that the patient should undergo root canal treatment. Once tooth decay occurs, if it cannot be treated with self-repair, it is not possible to completely heal itself, and this will lead to further development.

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How to treat a cavity that has decayed to the root of the tooth?

For a tooth decayed to the root, it is first necessary to take an X-ray of the tooth. If the X-ray shows that the root still has some salvage value, the tooth can be preserved through root canal treatment after controlling the inflammation. If the decay has reached the tip of the root and the root has no salvage value, the tooth needs to be extracted soon after controlling the inflammation. After the tooth is extracted, it is necessary to get a dental prosthesis as soon as possible depending on the condition of the tooth. If the prosthesis is not done in time, the tooth above may elongate, and the teeth on either side may tilt towards the gap, potentially leading to the loss of space over time.

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Written by Fang Xiao

Dentistry

1min 10sec

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Will cavities improve after changing teeth?

Cavities in baby teeth can heal when they are replaced by permanent teeth, but cavities in baby teeth still need to be treated. Because the decay can deepen, leading to premature loss of the tooth, which can affect the development of the permanent teeth. Severe cavities can lead to abnormal development of the permanent teeth, and even after the child's teeth are replaced, the new teeth may not be in good condition. For example, if the root of a baby tooth becomes inflamed and the inflammation is not treated and cleared, the alveolar bone around the tooth root can also become inflamed. Below the alveolar bone is the germ of the new tooth, and prolonged inflammatory stimulation can affect the germ of the permanent tooth. Additionally, premature loss of baby teeth can lead to the loss of adjacency between teeth, which can affect the growth and development of permanent teeth. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat cavities in baby teeth early, and ideally perform pit and fissure sealants before cavities form.

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Written by Fang Xiao

Dentistry

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Do early-stage cavities need to be treated?

Cavities refer to the chronic, progressive destructive disease of the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of plaque bacteria. For early-stage carious white spots, fluorides, fluoride toothpaste, or topical fluoride application can be used to halt the progression of cavities at that stage and prevent further development. Inactive caries can be effectively prevented and treated by brushing and rinsing. If not taken seriously, the cavity will continue to develop deeper, which can be classified into superficial, moderate, and deep caries. After the occurrence of cavities, patients may experience pain from thermal stimuli and pain from food impaction. When the stimuli are removed, the pain disappears. Cavities need treatment. If left untreated, they can lead to pulpitis, periapical periodontitis, and even result in tooth loss. Thus, early-stage caries should be adequately attended to, with an emphasis on early detection and treatment of cavities.

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Written by Li Cui

Dentistry

51sec

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Will tooth decay affect other teeth?

When a patient suffers from tooth decay, generally not taking measures to treat it may cause other teeth to also develop cavities. Some patients with long-term cavities may have one or more teeth affected, and even some patients might have entire teeth significantly decayed. Therefore, when cavities occur, certain measures must be taken for treatment. Depending on the condition of the cavity, a specific treatment plan should be formulated, whether it's a dental filling or tooth extraction. Thus, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene in their daily lives, brushing their teeth morning and evening. After meals, it's important to promptly remove food residues from the mouth and develop proper habits for brushing and eating. If a cavity develops, the patient should treat it early to prevent it from affecting other teeth.

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53sec

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Can tooth decay be cured?

Cavities are a type of destructive dental hard tissue disease caused by bacterial infections and are also a chronic progressive infectious disease. Cavities can only improve through early and effective intervention and treatment; otherwise, the condition may develop further, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis. Severe cases can also cause systemic symptoms such as space infections, and some may lead to bacteremia or sepsis. In the early stages of development, cavities have no clinical symptoms. At this stage, filling the cavity is painless. If the decay progresses to reach or approach the dental nerve, filling the cavity can then cause widespread pain. If it reaches the dental nerve, it cannot be directly filled in one go; it requires dental treatment for improvement.