The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups
Teeth Whitening
December 3, 2020Bone Loss and Dental Implants
January 21, 2021We all might think that our teeth are in good shape and pain-free, and we don’t need to regularly visit our dentist for our routine checkup, but this is not the correct approach towards our oral and dental health care. Regular care is essential in the prevention of diseases in the mouth.
Regular dental checkups might save your tooth from an extraction or root canal treatment. Other than dental problems, some non-dental conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer have signs that appear in the mouth. A routine dental examination can also reveal signs of vitamin and iron deficiencies.
So, it is extremely important to visit your dentist at least once, but ideally, twice, a year to get your oral cavity examined.
In this article, we will highlight the key benefits of regular dental checkups.
- Prevent plaque, cavities, and tooth decay
On your routine dental checkup, your dentist will determine that if you need a professional tooth cleaning to remove plaque or tartar from the teeth. This will protect the teeth and gums from attacks by harmful bacteria that reside in plaque. In case if you miss your regular appointment, these harmful bacteria can cause more damage by causing cavities and tooth decay.
- Prevent gum disease
Usually, the early stages of gum disease have no symptoms. This makes it difficult to detect gum disease in the mouth. Dentists are professionally trained to diagnose gum diseases in the initial stages.
During a routine checkup, your dentist will make sure that the gums are healthy and free of inflammation. Your dentist will also look for any gum swelling, gum recession, and deep gum pockets. If your dentist finds any of these alarming signs, he/she will guide you for further necessary treatment.
- Screening for oral cancer
Oral cancer is a common disease that manifests itself in various ways. Oral cancer if not diagnosed early can quickly progress and become life-threatening.
In addition to the examination of the teeth and the gums, your dentist will screen an oral cavity for signs of oral cancer. It is important because if oral cancer goes undetected in the initial stages, it can develop into a life-threatening crisis.
- Detect systemic health problems
As previously discussed, many systematic diseases have manifestations in the oral cavity as well. The dentist will examine the jaws, neck, and lymph nodes, for any swelling, lumps, deformities, or any other symptoms of disease. If there are signs of disease, your dentist will make a referral to the appropriate medical professional for necessary treatment.
- Discover hidden problems
The benefit of visiting your dentist every six months is getting your teeth and jaw bone thoroughly examined for any pathology. Dentists take Radiographs (X-ray) images to find and diagnose dental problems like hidden caries that may be invisible to the naked eye. Other problems that can be readily detected on routine radiographs include impacted, unerupted, or missing teeth.
- Save time and money
When an oral disease is detected before it becomes progressed, it is easier to treat and is cost-effective. The best example can be decayed teeth which if left untreated can lead to more serious problems eventually needing more comprehensive treatment like root canal, which involves a greater number of visits and is heavy for the wallet as well. So, with regular dental check-ups, you’ll be able to save a lot of money and time wastage.
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