When we first begin growing teeth as babies, we begin needing dental care. We start visiting the dentist for regular appointments at this early age. Then in adulthood, we might wonder if we can skip these visits to avoid the hassle of going to the dentist’s office.
But these appointments play a major role in maintaining your oral health. You might face consequences with your smile if you begin avoiding these visits. Read on to learn more about the importance of seeing your dentist for routine appointments.
What Happens During Routine Dental Visits?
When you see your dentist for a routine appointment, they begin by examining your smile. They look at your teeth and gums for signs of any problems like cavities or gum disease. If they spot any issues, they can offer swift treatment.
This type of preventative care will stop irreversible harm from overcoming your smile. Ultimately, it can save you money in costly extensive restorative dental work too.
Your dentist will also clean your teeth during these appointments. They will scrape excess plaque and tartar build-up from hard-to-reach areas of your smile.
Even those with a diligent at-home oral hygiene regimen will have trouble clearing away all of this build-up. If these residues linger on your teeth, they can erode the tooth enamel and put you at risk of many dental dangers.
How Often Should I Schedule Regular Appointments?
In most cases, a dentist will recommend scheduling a routine exam and cleaning appointment every six months. This creates an ideal window to clean plaque before it can cause dental problems. It will also allow a dentist to catch the early stages of dental concerns before they lead to significant damage.
However, some patients may need to visit their dentist more frequently for optimal preventative care. Senior-aged patients, those with a higher propensity for tartar build-up, and people with underlying health issues may need to see their dentist three or four times per year. Call your dentist to find a general dental plan that suits your unique needs.
What Do I Do During a Dental Emergency?
Sometimes even when you take all necessary precautions, accidents may occur that impact your oral health. If you sustain an injury or notice an issue with your smile before your next routine dental visit, do not hesitate to contact your dentist. You should not suffer in pain or discomfort until your scheduled appointment.
Your dentist can ask you to come to their office for an emergency dental appointment if needed. There they can evaluate your smile, diagnose the issue, and provide swift treatment.
Ignoring a problem may cause the issue to worsen, which may mean you will need intense dental work to amend it in the long run. Take prompt action when it comes to issues in your smile and call your dentist with any concerns. They can restore your dental health before you experience major dental damage.