Had a similar thing happen to me last year. Dentist spotted a small cavity during a routine checkup and immediately suggested filling it. I asked if we could hold off for a bit and see how it goes, since I wasn't experiencing any discomfort or sensitivity yet. She was pretty open to that and explained clearly what we'd be watching out for—like increased sensitivity, changes in tooth color, or if the cavity got visibly deeper on the X-rays.
I stepped up my oral hygiene game big-time after that—started flossing religiously, cut back on sugary snacks, and used fluoride mouthwash regularly. At my next appointment about five months later, she said the cavity hadn't progressed at all. It didn't magically disappear or anything (sadly), but it was stable enough that she felt comfortable continuing to monitor it.
What I've gathered from this experience is that dentists often recommend proactive treatments because they're trained to prevent bigger issues down the line. But it's also totally reasonable—and beneficial—to ask questions and understand if immediate treatment is necessary or if there's room to wait and see.
Did your dentist mention anything specific they'd look for in future checkups to determine if it's time to move forward with treatment? Mine said she'd mainly keep an eye on X-ray changes and sensitivity levels. Curious if different dentists have different criteria for deciding when monitoring isn't enough anymore.
"it's also totally reasonable—and beneficial—to ask questions and understand if immediate treatment is necessary"
Totally agree with this. Dentists tend to err on the cautious side. I've noticed some dentists also consider cavity location—like between teeth vs. chewing surfaces—when deciding if monitoring is enough or not.
I can relate to this... Our dentist recently found a tiny cavity between my son's back teeth. She explained it could wait and be monitored, but honestly, I felt uneasy leaving it untreated. I asked a ton of questions (probably too many, lol), and she patiently walked me through the pros and cons. We ended up deciding to watch it closely for now, but I'm still a little anxious about whether we made the right call. It's reassuring to know others are navigating similar decisions.
I totally get feeling uneasy about "watching and waiting"...but honestly, I've had dentists monitor tiny cavities for years without issues. I'd say trust your dentist on this one—but keep asking those million questions, lol. Better safe than sorry, right?
Yeah, I hear you, but how small is "tiny"? I've had dentists disagree on what needs immediate attention versus what's fine to monitor. One dentist said a cavity was minor and could wait; another said it was borderline needing a filling ASAP. Ended up getting a second opinion just to ease my mind...turns out it was somewhere in between, lol. Makes me wonder—do they all have different standards or something?
