Have you ever experienced delaying dental treatment only to end up paying a higher cost?

It seems that many people keep postponing their dental visits because the discomfort is only slight.

I also tend to brush it off, thinking it will be fine as long as it doesn't hurt, but hearing that the scope of treatment could expand later makes me worried.

Have you ever experienced delaying dental treatment and ending up needing more extensive care than expected?

I am also curious if you felt it would have been better to have gone earlier.