Do I need to have a cavity filled if it doesnt hurt?

Question

I have had a cavity that my dentist said "needed to be filled soon". This was about 10 months ago. I still haven't gone to do it and it feels fine. I am not a big fan of the dentist, so I have been putting it off, but, if it doesn't hurt, do I really need to do it? Can I wait 'til it starts to bug me?

Lots of good answers on this one... I forgot to mention I think what they said is I need to have a filling re-done as the old one went bad(?). Also, it's in between teeth...is that not as bad?? I know I should just go and get it over with so it's not on my mind...but, we're talking $180+ (to get the white kind). I don't have any insurance.

Answer 1

You can wait. Dentists have this thing where they try to "catch a cavity early" even if it's not serious. That's just more money they're putting in their pockets to have it filled. I brush, floss, and rinse after every meal everyday and when I went to the dentist last week, they just happened to find two cavities. My teeth have not been bothering me at all. Unless it starts to bother you, then you can probably wait.

Answer 2

Having just been to the dentist this week, I say go. It will be on your mind unless you have it taken care of. Dentistry has come a long way and there will be no pain, maybe some annoying drilling. Filling the cavity will stop the spread of it. Make the appt; you'll be glad you did. I'm sure healthwise it's not the best thing to have a cavity that needs filling. Go.

Answer 3

It's best to get it filled while its small. When fillings go deeper you run a risk of irritating nerves and needing a root canal later on. Or you can just let it go long enough that you need a root canal in the first place. Filling cavities is preventative so you don't need to get something like a root canal done. By the time it hurts, you're in trouble (well, you likely need something more than a filling anyway). Believe me, you want to avoid those! I had to have one done and they're not fun.

Answer 4

It would be wise to do it now. Most dentists accept payments for your work. You wait much longer the cavity can spread, eventually get down to the root and if you get an infection and then let it go you can lose your whole tooth. I know. I have been there before. It costs a lot of money for rootcanals, crowns, etc. Get it done now or you may regret it later on.

Answer 5

yes.... if you don't get it filled it can get bigger and bigger and cost more and more money to fix. Eventually can go to the root and need a root canal which can cost 6-8 hundred dollars. otherwise it depends on how much surface needs to be filled on how much it costs. and of course the longer you wait the more surface will be covered by the cavity and need to be filled

Answer 6

i just spent 850.00 on five that had to be repaired because my old dentist was a well lets just say he was slack. If you wait until it bugs you, your mostly likely either gonna lose that tooth or have to have a root canal and that root canal will cost you more than that filling will. Plus when you start having pain, other things like infections will follow. If i were you i'd go and get it taken care of now.

Answer 7

your tooth might feel fine now but the hole with gradually get bigger little by little until the tooth starts crumbling and you would have to get it pulled. filling a cavity is a heck of a lot better than getting a tooth pulled.

Answer 8

A cavity is NOT a static situation. Cavities do NOT go away, they do NOT get better on their own, and they do NOT stay the same forever, either. What they DO do is keep getting bigger and bigger, consuming more and more of the tooth structure as time goes on. If it's not fixed, eventually this tooth WILL start to hurt, possibly VERY severely, and when it reaches that point, your only options will be to either have the tooth removed, or spend a huge amount of money on a crown as well as (most likely) a root canal treatment.

You have two choices:
1. a relatively small amount of discomfort, inconvenience and expense now
'OR
2. a GUARANTEED much larger amount of pain, inconvenience, and (unless you have the tooth pulled) expense later, along with the risk of severe infection.

The choice is up to you. The only absolutely ironclad guarantee is that you WILL have to sit in a dentist's chair and have SOMETHING done to this tooth as SOME point.

The choice open to you is not to either get the tooth fixed or not get it fixed. The choice is whether to do it now or wait until you have a much more painful and expensive situation on your hands. I know what I would choose!

Answer 9

Sure, you can wait. If you are saving up money to have a root canal which can cost thousands vs getting it fixed now which may only cost $100. Im not a fan of dentists either but I know the difference between $1000 and $100. Also, by not getting it fixed now, you are simply saying that you dont care much about your teeth. Cavities can grow fast. Dont wait till it hurts. Get it fixed now. If you are that nervous w/ your present dentist, then find one that deals with wimps. I had to ask around myself for that. Im a dental wimp and proud of it so its nothing to be ashamed of. I finally found the right dentist and it helps alot. I still dont like going much but now at least Im not as afraid.

Answer 10

sure but as you do then bacteria and food and things get trapped in the crack from the old filling and start messing up the tooth. It is most likely doing this but since it hasn't gotten close to the nerve yet it isn't hurting you, but it will if you wait to long. I would start saving some money and get it done soon, if you let it get to bad you can loose the tooth so get it fixed as soon as you can.