Can a dentist misdiagnose a cavity?
Some patients wonder whether it's possible to misdiagnose a cavity. The answer is yes, there is always the potential to under or over diagnose a cavity.
If your dentist says cavities can not go away on their own, they are lying. Ask the dentist to show you how your cavity is beyond the first layer of the tooth; then and only then should a cavity be fixed.
Sensitive teeth often resemble a cavity. It will feel like a tingle or tickle in your teeth at certain times. Your teeth feel sensitive due to bacteria that is thinning down your tooth enamel.
Yes! There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion from a dentist, especially if major dental work is being proposed. A good dentist will understand that you are making an important decision about your health and want you to feel confident about moving forward with their suggested treatment.
Mistakes made by dentists are not limited to those professionals new to the practice of oral care. Even very experienced dentists make mistakes. While roughly thirteen percent of all malpractice claims are against dentists, it is not unfair to say that many more instances of dental malpractice exist that go unreported.
Genetics – Believe it or not, some people are more prone to getting cavities due to their genetics. These people are more susceptible to the strain of bacteria that unfortunately causes those pesky cavities. The entire biome of bacteria in each person's mouth can differ greatly.
If not diagnosed and addressed in its earliest stages, tooth decay can lead to dental caries, which are small holes in your tooth enamel. These holes tend to look like small black or brown spots on your teeth. A black spot of tooth decay is usually accompanied by: Persistent pain or toothache.
Not cleaning your teeth well, frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks are the main culprits behind cavities. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes.
Due to their extensive education on oral health and knowledge of exactly what issues tooth and gum decay can cause, dentists do tend to take more care with their oral hygiene than average Americans. This does tend to decrease their likelihood to get cavities, but it doesn't make them immune to them.
Rinse their mouth with water after they've eaten sugary foods if brushing is not possible at that moment. If your child's cavities exceeded the demineralization stage, then, unfortunately, they can't be reversed. However, they can be treated and kept under control.
Is one cavity a big deal?
No. However, when we detect a small amount of decay, it is not something for you to feel overwhelmed by. Instead, it's something that we encourage you to take as a sign that your care needs improvement in some way. For instance, you might need to cut back on sugar and acidic drinks like sugars.
A tooth infection is harder to spot because you can't see inside the tooth's pulp. However, there are many exterior signs, such as swelling, redness, and visible pus. One of the easiest ways to determine if you have an infection rather than a cavity is to use water.
What Does a Cavity Look Like? While it is usually difficult to see a cavity in its beginning stages, some cavities start with a whitish or chalky appearance on the enamel of your tooth. More serious cases can have a discolored brown or black color. However, most often there are no distinguishable red alerts.
Since the enamel is the outermost strongest, thickest layer of the tooth, many patients do not normally report any pain when the cavity is in the early phase of tooth decay. In fact, once the patient starts to have hot or cold sensitivity and/or pain, this is an indicator that the decay has spread much deeper.
Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.