As soon as we grow our first baby teeth, we begin visiting the dentist’s office for regular dental care. When we reach adulthood, we might start to wonder if going to the dentist for this routine attention is really necessary, especially if we also practice good at-home oral health care.
The answer is yes. We receive important dental work during these visits that keep our smile healthy and should not skip these appointments. Read on to learn details about why you should continue to visit your dentist on a regular basis for optimal oral health.
What Happens During a Routine Dentist Appointment?
A routine appointment at your dentist’s office often begins with a teeth cleaning. You brush and floss your teeth at home. But your oral hygiene tools cannot always reach tricky spots in your mouth. This will leave plaque and tartar build-up on your smile that can eat away at your dental structure if it lingers.
So your dentist scrapes away these harmful residues, lowering your risk of cavities and other dental dangers. They also perform an oral exam on your smile, checking for early signs of dental problems. Then they can diagnose and treat them quickly before they cause lasting damage.
If you do not receive this preventative dental care, you could put the look and feel of your smile at risk and then might require extensive dental work. Attend dental check-ups as recommended by your dentist to preserve your oral health.
When Do I Schedule Dental Check-Ups?
The average dental patient should attend a routine dental check-up twice a year. The six-month period makes for the ideal window to remove harmful build-up from your smile before it can hurt your dental structure. And it allows your dentist to intervene for potential dental issues before they create severe damage.
However, some patients might need to see their dentists more frequently. Senior patients, those with a higher likelihood of forming tartar, and people with underlying health conditions may require three or four visits to their dentist a year for optimal oral health care. Find a preventative dental care plan that suits your specific needs by calling your dentist today.
What Do I Do During a Dental Emergency?
Even with diligent preventative measures, you might suffer a dental emergency that requires urgent attention from your dentist. If you feel tooth pain or notice any abnormalities in your smile, you do not have to wait until your next regularly scheduled dentist appointment. Contact your dentist as soon as you can if you have questions or concerns about your oral health.
If you delay dental treatment, the problem will likely worsen, and you could experience permanent dental concerns. This may mean you will need costly or invasive dental procedures to amend them.
You can communicate concerns about your oral health with your dentist at any time. Reach your dentist in New Philadelphia, OH online or by phone at 330.969.6343.