CAVITIES LEFT UNTREATED

[OralHealth]

How long does it take for a cavity to develop a periapical abscess?  When is the tooth too far gone to save it?

Hope to hear from an expert.

[OralHealth]

Hi Scottma

Sorry another question.  When does a dentist decide to extract a tooth with periodontitis.  Like how bad does the tooth need to be what percentage of bone loss and gum pockets.

Thanks again.

[scottma]

Whether a tooth is restorable or rescurable depends on the dentist's knowledge, experience, and skill. Particularly, prognosis of a specific condition depends on experience heavily.

[OralHealth]

Dear Scottma,
Thanks kindly for your response.  Fixing a cavity whenever identified obviously make very good sense.  

However, I'll give you a hypothetical question.  If a person presents with say gum disease, decay and defective restorations has no symptoms of pain, or abscesses etc and for whatever reason leaves a tooth untreated for say approx 6-7 months then suddenly develops an abscess with severe pain.  Is it probable that during that period without the treatment caused it to become worse and then develop the abscess which required an extraction?

When do teeth with cavities become unsaveable that require extraction. Also  When does a dentist decide that a tooth requires an extraction from a cavity?  Can all teeth be saved with root canals?
      
I appreciate your response.
Thanks Kindly

[scottma]

You never know, only god knows.the best strategy is to have a periodic dental exam, including x-Ray, fix a cavity whenever it is identified.