You begin seeing your dentist for regular oral health care as soon as you grow your first baby teeth. In adulthood, you might wonder if attending dental appointments so frequently is really necessary to keep your smile healthy.
The answer is yes. Your dentist provides you with crucial preventative dental care during these visits. Skipping these check-ups may put you at serious risk of many types of dental problems.
You can feel more encouraged to attend these appointments when you know more about the role they play in your oral health. So read on to learn about the importance of seeing your dentist for routine care on a regular basis.
What Happens at a Routine Dental Check-Up?
When you attend a routine dental check-up, the dentist begins the appointment with a professional teeth cleaning. Even if you practice good oral hygiene at home, your toothbrush and floss cannot reach all areas of your mouth. This will leave you with plaque and tartar build-up that can start to hurt your teeth over time.
The dentist scrapes away this build-up to leave your smile clean, fresh, and healthy. They will also perform an oral exam to check your smile for signs of dental concerns. An early diagnosis of gum disease, cavities, and other issues allows the dentist to provide swift treatment to get rid of them before they cause irreversible damage to your smile.
When Should I Schedule a Dental Appointment?
The average dental patient should schedule routine dental check-ups approximately every six months. This establishes the ideal window for a dentist to clean excess plaque and tartar from your teeth before they can begin to hurt your oral health. It also ensures a dentist can find potential dental problems during an exam and treat them before they develop into serious concerns.
Some dental patients might need to schedule these appointments on a more frequent basis. For example, senior-aged patients, people with a higher risk of tartar formation, and those with certain health issues may require dental check-ups three or four times a year. Talk to your dentist to find preventative dental care that will suit your unique oral health needs.
What Do I Do During a Dental Emergency?
Even if you practice diligent at-home and in-office preventative dental care, you might suffer an accident that impacts your oral health. You might knock out a tooth or notice sudden tooth pain. If this occurs, you should not wait until your regularly scheduled dental check-up to tell your dentist.
Contact your dentist right away if you notice new problems or changes in your oral health. In the event of a dental emergency, time can play an important role in the restoration of your oral health.
The dentist may want you to come to their office for an emergency evaluation. Do not delay this oral health care or you could face serious and irreversible consequences for your smile.