Do you know why a cavity can cause your tooth to become painful, or sensitive? It has to do with the blood vessels and nerve tissue in the pulp of your tooth. At first, a cavity only affects your enamel. If your dentist restores your tooth at this point, you can have it fixed with a dental filling before you experience real discomfort. However, if you do not have treatment in time, decay will pass through your enamel and dentin, and an infection can take hold that harms the living tissue in your tooth. At this point, you can start to feel problems. It is important to respond quickly to tooth pain from a cavity, as it can cause serious damage if it continues to go untreated.

Root Canals Take Care Of Serious Cavities

While a filling can take care of simple cavities, a cavity that has reached your pulp will need a root canal. With a root canal, your dentist can take out the infected tissue at the center of your tooth, to stop its spread, and end your discomfort. The pulp can then be sealed, and your tooth can be restored via a dental crown.

Routine Checkups Help You Catch Cavities Before They Start To Hurt

If you visit your dentist regularly, you have a better chance at avoiding problems with your teeth. If a cavity develops between your checkups, you can have it caught – and treated – before it becomes a real pain. When you only see the dentist to take care of an existing problem, that window of opportunity to fix a small cavity can be lost.