But it Doesn’t Hurt? Why Should I Have That Dental Treatment done?
Patients come to us for many reasons. Some people are excellent at maintaining their regular preventative hygiene appointments and have regular check ups and x-rays. Others come to us only when something is causing them a concern. Regardless of why you are in our dental chair, we do our best to advise and educate each person about their oral health and what options we recommend to them. Usually after Dr. Dodds finishes explaining what he has seen in a mouth and on x-rays, patients have a good understanding about what treatment should be done and why it is important to have it done in a timely manner.
Occasionally we hear from patients “It doesn’t hurt, so I won’t bother having the treatment done.” Good or bad, we don’t always feel tooth pain until the decay gets deeper and more severe. By the time you are feeling it, what might have been a quick and simple filling can have turned into a much larger filling or may even require a root canal and crown. It’s a little like studying for a big exam; you can keep up with the regular notes and exercises, or you may choose to wait until it’s the night before the big exam to open your book and study. The pain is exponential!
Instead of avoiding dental work, think of it as an investment in your health. There are many experts now linking poor dental health to serious medical problems such as hypertension, diabetes, oral cancers, kidney failure and heart disease. The sooner you have your oral health in check, the sooner the rest of your body can be restored to good health.
If you’re the person that thinks those things could never happen to you, then consider the more mundane issue of bad breath. It can be a sign that something is wrong in your mouth; there could be decay, or you could have a shortage of saliva. Saliva contains important elements such as bicarbonate, calcium, and phosphate. They not only neutralize plaque acids, but also help repair early tooth damage and decay.
Sometimes your doctor may put a ‘watch’ on a tooth, meaning they will assess again at your next appointment. But if there are certain issues that should be dealt with soon, do yourself a favour and take care of your health. If you are not clear about why it may be needed, make sure you ask more questions! Your dental health is important, and only you can take charge of it!
