The Importance of Regular Dental Check-Ups – A Complete Guide
4 min read
An annual trip to the dentist is not an appointment that most people put at the top of their wish list, but it is still one of the most important. Routine check-ups prevent costly procedures in future, as serious dental problems require correction that often involve invasive treatment and more invasive approaches.
At regular intervals, dentists can identify early signs of tooth and gum decay, and other issues that might worsen down the line. Often they assist patients in taking preventive measures to avoid, or delay, similar issues from resurfacing later on.
Early Detection
The main benefit of visiting the dentist twice a year is that problems are identified early and could be treated before they become serious and expensive. Untreated dental problems can cause pain, infection or sometimes loss of the teeth. Your dental hygienist or dentist will check every part of your mouth – cleaning your teeth, brushing and flossing and removing the plaque and tartar buildup, testing for early signs of cavities and gum disease, checking for missing or impacted teeth and other dental issues. X-rays can be run that detect problems such as bone decay in the jaw area and tumours or other problems that aren’t visible to the probable eyesight of your dentist. This can often be as simple as identifying and treating problems such as fillings or root canal therapy before they develop, in a timely fashion that will prevent the more severe complications that can be linked to both heart disease and diabetes.
Prevention
Good hygiene combined with brushing your teeth twice daily and cleaning with dental floss each day can defend against cavities, gingivitis or other dental problems – but only if you actually do it; so, in order to find out if your attempts are leading anywhere, have your mouth and gums checked out every six months by a dental specialist who will give it a good cleaning and do the appropriate tests.
Dental Hygienists do professional cleansings of your teeth, removing hardened plaque build up and tartar that can not be reached by simply brushing and flossing your teeth, and check your mouth for any irregularities that may be the first sign of cancer or other disease. Visits keep you at a much higher chance of not developing these issues, not to mention keeping your smile white and healthy so you can look younger for longer!
Early Diagnosis
Going to the dentist every six months is not fun, but it is an important way to prevent serious problems before they happen. If there is a problem with your teeth, a specialist can fix it before the problem becomes serious. But advanced gum disease can have obvious consequences such as tooth loss if left to progress for too long. Dentists often spot warning signs of gum disease in its early stages, such as inflammation, bleeding and recession when patients visit for routine appointments. They use diagnostic tools such as x-rays to identify cavities in time to repair them. A cavity forms when the decay of enamel creates holes through which plaque containing sugars react with oral bacteria to generate bad breath (halitosis) or periodontal (gum/dental) disease.
Treatment
Several dental conditions can cause bad breath — known in the medical literature as halitosis. Tartar, gingivitis and cavities all leave bacteria-filled pockets that emit a foul smell — and that can lead to more serious problems; for example, gum disease can be a risk factor for heart disease and complications of diabetes. When you visit your dentist on a regular basis, potential issues can be detected early on, thus saving money down the road and providing the peace of mind which comes when you avoid expensive and time consuming treatments with preventions ones. Peace of mind benefits your health. Dental problems have a way of turning into pain an infection, making it difficult to eat and speak and damaging your teeth until you lose them. Low self esteem follows, and mood and behaviour may be altered when certain afflictions occur, but regular visits to your dentist will help keep the grumpy stuff out of your life and make you healthier!
Saving Money
Folks who don’t visit their dentist often end up having to make expensive dental bills in the future. They tend to ignore small problems until they escalate to such an extent that the problem needs immediate attention. Then they face costly root canal procedures or tooth extractions. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – and this is certainly true of dentistry. Checkups can allow your dentist to catch cavities or the early stages of gum disease when there may still be time to use less costly, straightforward treatments. Your dentist can give you suggestions on how to improve your oral hygiene routines and food choices to avoid more serious issues later on – in the long term, this will keep you out of his chair, and your wallet, and that has to be good news.
