Why you need to visit your Dentist every 6 months
Most people will say that going to the dentist is not necessarily on the top of their lists of things they want to do. Actually, the amount of people who say they avoid visits due to dental anxiety & fear is around 9% to 15%.
The dental clinic seems like a scary place, but there are certainly a good number of advantages that should make you want to jump up and schedule an appointment right away.
Regular dental checkups are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. The Indian Dental Association recommends a visit to the dentist at least once a year, but making an appointment once in six months prevents a host of oral related problems.
Prevention is better than cure. This can be done in many forms like encouraging patients to brush and floss, eating a healthy diet, use fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwashes, etc...
The basic components of every 6 month visit consists of:
Reviewing and updating your dental and medical history
Blood pressure screening
Oral Cancer screening
Examination of teeth and gums to check for cavities or other infections.
Radiographic examination – digital x-rays are the standard of care. Routine x-rays do not pose a health risk to the patient. We show and explain to patients exactly what we see.
We also do some specialized examinations for patients with dentures or implants, retainers, Invisalign, night guards etc...
Oral prophylaxis is a full mouth professional cleaning followed by polishing of your teeth and some oral hygiene instructions.
During the appointment, the dentist will review all the findings and x-rays, make any necessary diagnoses and make recommendation for treatment.
Reasons why you should visit every 6 months:
PREVENT PLAQUE: Plaque is a sticky deposit that clings to your teeth and gum line and is full of harmful bacteria. When plaque builds up it causes discoloration of the teeth, tooth decay and gum problems. Visiting a dentist every six months can leave your teeth clean and healthy and prevent these complications.
PREVENT TOOTH DECAY: Dentists can quickly diagnose tooth decay. When the cavities are small, they are very easy to fix. By delaying your visit, smaller cavities will enlarge and eventually lead to Root Canal Treatment, Crowns and even loss of your teeth. This involves more treatment, chairside time, and costs.
STOP GUM DISEASE: Dentists can stop the first sign of gum disease before it becomes a serious complication. If left untreated it could cause pain, swelling, bone loss, shaky teeth, and eventually loss of teeth.
SAVE MONEY: Identifying oral problems early saves you more in costs associates with dental treatment in the long run. Regular care and maintenance of your teeth reduces the chances of you developing complicated conditions.
IMPROVE YOUR SMILE: We have a number of treatments available during your routine checkups that would whiten, brighten, straighten and clean your teeth to give you that million dollar smile!
Remember, prevention is better than cure !!!
About the Author
Dr. Nicholas John Gomes graduated from the Rajah Muthiah Dental College & Hospital, Annamalai University Chidambaram & did Fellowship in Endodontics (Root Canal Specialist) from Saveetha Dental College & Hospital, Chennai. As a staunch advocate for preventive care, he and his team work diligently to help patients avoid tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer by recommending yearly checkups and cleanings. Because these visits allow for early detection of some of the most common oral health problems, Dr. Nicholas John Gomes can save smiles long before restorative care is necessary.