If you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums, it’s important to visit your dentist for a thorough cleaning and checkup on a regular basis. For most patients, we recommend seeing the dentist twice per year. Why are such frequent visits necessary? Here’s a look:
Problems can be detected and treated before they worsen.
By visiting your dentist often, you ensure that any problems are detected when they’re still minor and easy to treat. It’s a lot easier to fill a tiny cavity than it is to perform a root canal on a tooth that’s been allowed to decay for several years. Many problems, like cavities and loose fillings, don’t really cause symptoms or pain until they’re quite serious, so only your dentist can spot them early on.
Frequent appointments let your dentist monitor ongoing conditions.
In some cases, your dentist may spot a minor problem, like a weak spot in your enamel or a place where your gums are beginning to recede, and not know whether it’s going to become worse or correct itself. Seeing the dentist often allows him or her to monitor the progress of such issues and then recommend the proper treatments when and if they are needed.
Professional cleanings remove tartar.
When the plaque on your teeth is not removed, it hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar contributes to tooth decay, gum disease, and discoloration, especially if it is not removed regularly. You cannot remove tartar with regular brushing and flossing. Your dental hygienist must remove it using specialized tools. Twice-a-year cleaning appointments ensure your tartar buildup does not get too extensive, reducing your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Your dentist checks for oral cancer at each appointment.
Oral cancer is a very serious, often-deadly condition. The sooner it is caught, the better your chances of recovery. At every appointment, your dentist screens you for signs of oral cancer. If you have a dental visit every 6 months, you can be sure that if you do develop oral cancer, it is caught early. If you only see the dentist every few years, on the other hand, your oral cancer may be quite severe by the time it is caught.
Are you due for a dental checkup? Contact Shoreline Dental Studio to set up your appointment. Fill out our online form, and we will contact you shortly to set up your dental visit.
