Our smiles endure a significant amount of wear and tear over the years. Indeed, virtually everything can cause developmental complications and potentially lead to tooth loss. For this reason, we encourage you and your family to get as early a start as possible on your preventive care routine. After all, a well-rounded plan is much more involved than one might expect, and it only takes coming up short in one area to open the path for infection and disease. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX dentist will discuss what happens when decay sets in and affects your inner tooth.
When Decay Infects Your Inner Tooth
It goes without saying that dental decay is one of the most – if not, the most – common dental concerns out there, affecting millions of individuals every year. Just like most oral complications, decay begins with harmful bacteria that have set up camp in a relatively protected area of the mouth. Here, they sneakily feed off of the food that we consume, causing them to secrete harmful acids that actively wear down our teeth.
In its earliest forms, decay presents itself as a cavity or small hole. Without proper treatment, this concern can become larger and larger until the infection spreads inside of a tooth. Prior to this step, a simple dental filling could help remove the bacteria and reinforce your tooth’s strength. If the infection has made its way too deep, however, this restoration could fail. For more information about this process, contact our team today.
Potentially Losing a Tooth
Time is of the essence when it comes to your oral health, as there is not a dental concern that will ever get better with time alone. That being said, it is always better to act sooner rather than later when it comes to preserving your health. In fact, failing to do so will absolutely result in the loss of a natural structure, which is a permanent occurrence as adult teeth do not grow back.
When the infection spreads internally, it affects the inner dental pulp and nerves contained in the roots. This means that the issue has advanced from a minor concern into a major one, as your function, structure, and health are all now taking a hit.
How We Help
While spreading decay is a concerning issue, fortunately, there still may be hope in saving the affected tooth. Depending on the severity of your situation, your dentist may recommend a root canal procedure to remove the infection and fill the open canals with a dental material. This procedure is often used as a last attempt at saving one or more teeth, and could be your only hope at maintaining your natural smile.
Learn More Today
For more information about the dangers of decay or to schedule your appointment with our team, contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 today.
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