General dentistry offices are responsible for the primary dental care of people of all ages. Dentists perform routine care and maintenance to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. The visits also help dentists diagnose dental issues that may not have obvious symptoms yet. Many people wonder how often they should see their dentist. The answer varies based on individual circumstances, but there is some general guidance to start with.
Most experts recommend seeing a dentist twice a year for regular cleanings. Going every six months is an excellent guideline to follow if you have no major dental issues and have good oral hygiene and health. The American Dental Association recognizes that each person is unique but that seeing your dentist once or twice a year is a good baseline.
If you are at higher risk for tooth decay or gum disease, you may need to see your dentist more often. There is no shame in going every three to four months, especially if this is what your general dentistry office recommends. Some people are more prone to cavities, and more frequent cleanings can help keep related oral health problems at bay.
Individuals that are at higher risk of oral disease include smokers, those with a lowered immune response, people with diabetes, cancer patients, and people with heart disease. More frequent visits are generally beneficial so that potential problems can be caught right away.
You should definitely make an additional appointment to see your dentist if you have symptoms between regular cleanings. Examples of issues that warrant an additional appointment include:
If you are pregnant, you should also plan on seeing your dentist more often. Pregnancy gingivitis is very common and requires extra care. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease, and if left untreated, it can result in lost bone and teeth.
If you go to your dentist every six months, he or she will do a checkup and cleaning at both visits during the year. However, it is standard to get X-rays once annually. As a patient sitting in the dental chair, the visit may seem like nothing much is happening. However, a dentist can detect quite a bit from the visit.
A cleaning is a big part of the visit, and its purpose is to remove tartar and plaque that regular at-home care cannot remove. The hygienist also removes stains and polishes the teeth to improve the look of your smile.
After the cleaning, the dentist performs a thorough exam. This includes measuring the gum pockets to detect early stages of gum disease, inspecting each individual teeth for signs of decay, checking the soft tissues of the mouth, ensuring your bite is normal and even, and detecting any cracks or other damage to the teeth. The visit may also include an oral cancer screen. On visits in which X-rays are taken, the dentist is able to see the underlying parts of the teeth and gums that are undetectable to the common eye.
It is important to see your dentist regularly even if you do not have any current oral health concerns. This is because routine visits are preventative in nature and can also catch issues early before they become more complex.
For example, your dentist may notice decay in its early stages before you get tooth pain or an infection that can spread to your gums and other teeth and require more extensive work. Likewise, early gum disease is more reversible than once it has progressed to a more advanced stage.
Also, some non-oral diseases have oral symptoms. Your general dentistry office's ability to spot these signs before you notice them can save you time and money and protect your overall health.
Do not let fear prevent you from making regular appointments with your dentist. Your provider will help you work through any anxieties and will make sure you are comfortable during your visit. Continuity of care and visits that occur on your dentist's recommended timeline help prevent more serious issues and keep your smile healthy.
Between cleanings and checkups, be sure to follow your dental office's guidelines for maintaining good oral health. This means brushing well and flossing twice a day and keeping your dental office up to date on any changes in symptoms or health conditions.
Request an appointment here: https://www.foundersdental.com or call Founders Dental at (720) 893-7362 for an appointment in our Castle Rock office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentistry in Castle Rock, CO.
Visiting the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing event for many people. The biggest reason for this is that general dentistry appointments are often associated with painful procedures and a perceived loss of control as you lay back and let the dentist and dental assistant perform their duties. It might also be possible that you are…
General dentists can perform dozens of different procedures, so they may have a long list of offered services. A general dentist focuses on the prevention (and fast restoration) of oral health issues. However, they may also provide more extensive procedures, such as teeth replacement, when necessary.Some general dentistry services are more common than others. Specifically,…
Be sure to see a general dentist before a toothache or other dental emergency. It benefits you to be proactive with your dental care and take advantage of all the ways a general dentist can help protect your teeth and overall oral health. A dentist does more than just treat dental problems. Preventive dentistry is…
Even if we do not like it, there is a reason our general dentist recommends routine visits at least every six months. In fact, there are several important reasons why we should get into the habit of going to the dentist for regular visits as often as is necessary or as is told. The visits…
Crowns are commonly used in dental restorations. A crown is a cap shaped like a tooth but hollow in the middle. It fits over a natural tooth that has to be prepared first. Depending on the issue it is correcting, a crown can be used by itself or as a component of another restoration technique.Teeth…
A patient who is missing a single tooth may wonder if dental restorations are worthwhile. There are several reasons that a missing tooth should not be left as an empty space. Here are a few potential issues that can arise from having a missing tooth and why restorations should be seen as required rather than…