Dentist Office Visits: The Importance of Regular Exams

Pop quiz: when was the last time you visited the dentist? If this question is hard to answer, it’s most likely been too long since your last appointment. Life gets busy, and oral health isn’t always the first thing on your mind, but regular exams are essential for your dental health. 

Whether you need a refresher or you’re new to having a dental plan, we want you to be informed about the need for routine appointments. We’ve compiled a list of benefits to stress the importance of sticking to a schedule. 

Preventative Care

“Why do I need to visit the dentist office if my teeth are fine?” The answer is simple: preventative care is the best way to ensure proper long-term oral health.

You’re risking severe health issues if you wait until the last minute to schedule an exam. Enamel, the outermost layer of the tooth, can erode. Unfortunately, this protective layer cannot be regrown, and losing it leaves your teeth extremely vulnerable. Beyond that, you could experience sharp pains, fracture, even lose teeth if it goes untreated.

But it’s not just your teeth that need preventative care. Untreated gums are at risk of developing a serious infection called periodontitis. This inflammation around the teeth damages the soft tissue and bones in your mouth. Left unchecked, you are at risk of losing teeth. Gum disease is also linked to other severe health issues, increasing your risk for lung disease, cancer, and even heart attacks. 

“But I brush my teeth and floss regularly. I don’t have any cavities. Shouldn’t that be enough?” 

That’s great! But you should be aware of more than just cavities. Even those who diligently brush and floss won’t be able to provide the same care as a trained expert. Patients often miss the fact that problems are forming and won’t get help until it’s too late. Plaque can build up and develop into tartar. This solidified, tough substance requires professional care to remove effectively. Plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay and other worries including gingivitis. 

It’s important to visit your dentist at least every six months to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Ignoring these symptoms will lead to more extreme complications in the future. Stick to your scheduled appointments, and you’ll prevent severe issues from developing.

Financial Savings

Let’s say you’ve skipped your dentist visits for some time. During that period, a cavity formed. On top of that, your gums have started to suffer and tear. Your goal was to save money by skipping out on a dental plan, but what began as a simple cavity has spread into disease and decay.

Now you need extensive treatment to keep these symptoms from getting worse. Pulling a tooth, getting fillings, or even surgery are all possibilities. While these services are much more expensive in the long run, you can avoid these costs by keeping up with your regular cleanings.

Education On Dental Health

Dentists do more than just clean your teeth and send you on your way. They walk you through the steps to continue proper dental health habits at home. Educating patients on oral health is more than just telling them to brush daily. You’ll get an overview of how you’re doing and what you should change. 

Have your gums ever bled while brushing your teeth? You were probably alarmed and confused. Your dentist will be able to determine the cause and give you a solution. There’s a chance you may be brushing too hard. A lack of flossing can also damage the gums and cause bleeding. Whatever the case may be, you’ll get an answer, so you don’t have to live with these issues. 

Patients often forget that their eating habits play a significant role in their dental health. You might stay on top of your brushing and flossing and still get plaque, cavities, or gingivitis. The foods you eat, and even the time of day you eat them, can affect your dental health. Your dentist can help you develop a plan to avoid damaging your teeth with certain foods or habits.

Regular exams keep you on the right path for your oral health. You’ll walk away with cleaner, healthier teeth and the knowledge to keep them that way.

Detecting Oral Cancer

One of the most severe risks for dental health is oral cancer. This tragic disease causes pain, numbness, decay, and abnormal growths inside the mouth. Worst of all, oral cancer can spread without you even knowing it. If the disease goes unchecked, it can become life-threatening.

Your dentist has the training to identify symptoms before they spread. Catching the warning signs early on is the key to successful treatment. Thankfully, oral cancer is highly treatable when recognized in time. 

Again, the best way to detect these risks is by completing your checkups at the dentist office every six months. Routine inspections ensure any alarming symptoms won’t go unnoticed. Cancer exams are quick and pain-free, so you’ll get peace of mind in just a few minutes. 

X-Rays Diagnosis

Some issues can only be detected with advanced technology. Teeth can grow in at the wrong angle and damage the mouth, or tumors can develop beneath the surface without the patient knowing. 

In these cases, x-ray imaging is needed. Your dentist office has cutting-edge machines for diagnosing hidden complications you might be experiencing. The quicker these problems get diagnosed, the more effective your treatment will be. 

Create Good Habits

Does this sound familiar? Let’s say you decide to put more effort into your dental health, and get off to a great start. Every night, you brush for the proper amount of time and floss regularly. But the long days at work and packed schedules start to wear you down. Skipping a night of flossing quickly turns into stopping altogether, and your routine crumbles.

This happens all of the time, but fret not. Your dentist is always there to help you create and maintain healthy habits. 

Achieve A Radiant Smile

Does it feel like your teeth never get any whiter, no matter how well you brush? You’re not alone. There’s only so much you can do on your own. Without the advanced cleaning you get from your dentist’s office, your progress might plateau or even go backward. 

Regular checkups are the best way to achieve and maintain the smile you’ve always wanted. Your teeth will look cleaner, your confidence boosted, and your smile will light up the room. 

Comfortable, Comprehensive Care

Great Expressions offers a wide range of dental services for patients at every stage of life. Whether you need general dentistry or orthodontic surgery, we deliver results to make you smile. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment!