You are probably thinking, I can wait on it. It’s not really hurting me. I don’t need to get my teeth fixed right now. The truth is, there are lots of consequences to delayed dental care. I’m Dr. Rachel Miro, and I’m a dentist here at Dental Implant and Aesthetic Specialists, and today we’re going to talk about the consequences of delayed dental care.
Progression of Dental Issues
The first thing you want to think about is that things can progress. They can become worse, especially cavities. A lot of times, you think: “I’ve got a little cavity; I don’t need to take care of it now.” Your mouth is part of your whole health system, so something that’s happening in your tooth can actually affect your overall health.
Impact on Gum Health
Another thing that can happen if you don’t take care of your teeth and go to the dentist regularly for cleanings is that gum disease can progress. Gum disease has a lot of repercussions including swelling, bleeding, and loss of bone, so it’s really important to get in there and get your cleanings every six months.
Risk of Chronic Pain
The other thing you really want to think about when considering dental care and waiting to get treated is that it can lead to chronic pain. You let something go on a little bit too long, and then that pain progresses, and you have to treat it with antibiotics or medicines. That small thing can turn into something really big.
Financial Implications
The other thing I always like to tell patients is that the longer you wait, the more expensive it ends up being for you. Fixing a little filling is one thing, but once it progresses to an infection and you might lose the tooth or need a root canal, that’s when things can really escalate. You never want to let a cavity get so big that your tooth actually ends up needing a root canal and a crown.
Importance of Regular Checkups
This is why here at Dental Implant and Aesthetic Specialists, we really recommend our patients come in every six months, get their cleanings, get their annual X-rays, and really just get that checkup so that they can be confident that their dental health is doing well.
Overall Health Connection
All in all, we really want our patients to know that your mouth is the entryway to your body. As things happen in your mouth and your oral health, it really affects your systemic health and everything that’s going on. So, we really want patients to not delay dental care in order to stay healthy. No matter how many vitamins, how many supplements you take, if you’ve got cavities, or if you have teeth that are missing, it affects your overall health. We really want to get you back to being healthy.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to be a hundred percent healthy, it starts with your mouth. Come see us. We’re happy to take care of you. Don’t delay those little dental treatments that need to be done now. I’m Dr. Rachel Miro, and I’m here to help you watch your mouth.