“Do small cavities need to be filled?”
I am a 37 year old male. I want to know if small cavities need to be filled?
7 Answers
No need but clean better and use dental floss
Small cavities do not always "have to be filled." Sometimes cavities are so small that a filling would do more damage to the tooth than the cavity is doing. Sometimes cavities are so small that they are called "incipient" or "just beginning" and they can sometimes be reversed with use of fluoride and excellent home care and dietary changes. Your dentist call tell you if yours happens to be in one of those categories.
Yes, small cavities turn into large cavities.
Rev. Dr. Laurentis Barnett
Rev. Dr. Laurentis Barnett
Yes.
Hello,
This is actually a great question to ask and good for you for asking it. The answer is it really depends on a number of factors such as the size, location, which tooth it is on, how long has it been there, how good of oral hygiene the person has at home, how prone to cavities the person is, if the person is likely to come back for their next check up, etc. All these play a role in whether a small cavity needs to be filled. If it is between the teeth and smaller than the size of the instruments we use to take it out, the person has good oral hygiene (they take care of their teeth), and they come at least twice a year for cleanings, then perhaps we can wait to remove the cavity. However, if the person doesn't brush their teeth, and hasn't seen a dentist in 10 years then it is probably best to take care of it now while it is small and try to prevent a root canal and a crown for the person. If it is between the teeth and it is still in the enamel and you go back to the dentist in 6 months, they can take a look at it for you and see if it has changed. Sometimes they don't change for the rest of your life. Most places give out free second opinions so it might be worth a visit.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is actually a great question to ask and good for you for asking it. The answer is it really depends on a number of factors such as the size, location, which tooth it is on, how long has it been there, how good of oral hygiene the person has at home, how prone to cavities the person is, if the person is likely to come back for their next check up, etc. All these play a role in whether a small cavity needs to be filled. If it is between the teeth and smaller than the size of the instruments we use to take it out, the person has good oral hygiene (they take care of their teeth), and they come at least twice a year for cleanings, then perhaps we can wait to remove the cavity. However, if the person doesn't brush their teeth, and hasn't seen a dentist in 10 years then it is probably best to take care of it now while it is small and try to prevent a root canal and a crown for the person. If it is between the teeth and it is still in the enamel and you go back to the dentist in 6 months, they can take a look at it for you and see if it has changed. Sometimes they don't change for the rest of your life. Most places give out free second opinions so it might be worth a visit.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
There was a time when a cavity was given a "watch." What you are doing is watching the cavity get larger. You miss a 6-month check-up, and now you have a large cavity. Our office believes in restoring all cavities.
Yes. it will be getting bigger.
