Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunny
An x-ray should pick this up and show the cavity well before the tooth needed to be treated in such an invasive way. For a cavity to form, enamel will be affected in the area and this should show up when being x-rayed.
Regular dental checkups are recommended for everyone, and if the person should have any tooth ache, then definitely go see a dentist.
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In actual fact, it is quite possible for a cavity to be present and yet remain for some time undetected by X-ray, especially if it forms under an existing reconstruction. Additionally, what are referrd to as “drop surface” cavities - decay that begins in the tiny natural fissures that go down to the dentine - destroy the tooth from the inside out - the external surface will appear healthy until decay has progressed so far that it can be seen on X-rays or by literally seeing it as a discoloration under the surface of the enamel.
And of course severe tooth pain can also have other causes than decay - the root of a tooth may start to become necrotic for a variety of reasons, including trauma. In this case a root canal would usually be indicated.
But all of this does just underscore the importance of regular checkups, and annual dental X-rays. Being "penny-wise" by refusing for a few years the extra costs associated with the X-rays can suddenly seem quite "pound foolish" when extensive reconstructions, or even extractions end up being needed. And for those who worry about the radiation: consider that the dose you receive is less than that you'd get from the additional exposure to cosmic radiation on a long haul flight and I think it's plain that this is the right thing to do.