What happens if I don get a cavity filled?
If the tooth goes unfilled, the cavity will continue to spread. This will cause a lot of pain and discomfort. It can spread to the root area and cause an abscess (infection). This infection can then spread throughout the head and cause severe damage. If this goes untreated, it could even cause death. Infection spreads through lymph nodes quickly and infection doesn’t travel the same path in the head…this means that it can be very unpredictable. As for the fear….the dentist can use a topical numbing solution before giving you the shot (this helps a ton). I used to be afraid of the shot but now with the topical, it’s a piece of cake and you can’t feel the poke, just a little pressure. The procedure it quick and painless. The worst part is the vibrating and sound…take a walkman with you. It takes only minutes and you’ll be so happy you did it. You don;t have to have an amalgam (silver) filling…they have tooth colored material they can use instead.
