What Do Termites and Cavities Have in Common?
Dr. Joseph Lee is a Dentist practicing in Jacksonville, FL. Dr. Lee specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures,... more
As homeowners, we all understand the threat of termites. And if any of us are unfortunate enough to find them in our home, we want them out of there post haste. Well, tooth decay is also like having termites, but instead of your house being eaten away, it is your teeth.
When it first starts, it is usually not very noticeable. Oftentimes, it requires a proper exam and x-rays by your dentist to spot it at this stage. From there the cavity will continue to grow and just like a termite infestation, it can get quite large before any symptoms develop. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms such as sensitivity or pain develop, the time and cost to treat the tooth have significantly increased. What started as needing a simple filling can unexpectedly grow into needing more complex treatment such as a root canal and crown.
Cavities can grow quite quickly under the right conditions. To prevent cavities from getting out of control and ending up costing you more time and money to repair, be sure to visit your dentist regularly every six months. Fortunately, in most cases, cavities can be repaired and preventive measures can be taken to lower your risk for tooth decay.
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us!
