Do you and your family members visit a dentist twice a year? If you do, congratulations because that is a great step to help maintain and improve your oral health. However, if you only visit your dentist when you have oral health issues, you are missing a critical trick that most people use to protect their oral health.
By keeping up with your dental check-ups and cleanings, you are doing yourself a great favor in the long run. Apart from keeping your teeth in excellent and appealing condition, regular dental check-ups and exams can boost your overall health and wellbeing because the mouth is the gate to your body.
The dentist’s clinic seems like a scary place to be, but there are undoubtedly several benefits that you will reap when you visit a dentist regularly. Keep reading this article to learn the long-term benefits of regularly visiting your dentist for dental check-ups and cleaning.
Long Term Benefits of Regular Dental Visits
You are probably aware that regular dental cleanings are vital to keeping possible decay and cavities at bay. However, did you know regular dental appointments with your dentist have several long-term benefits for your oral and overall health? Explained below are some of these benefits:
Prevention
Although daily brushing and flossing of teeth can help you maintain and improve your oral health, professional deep dental cleaning could be necessary to remove stubborn tartar and plaque build-up on your teeth.
Also commonly known as scaling, deep dental cleaning involves the removal of tartar and plaque build-up below and above the gum line to restore mouth health and keep periodontal diseases at bay. Typically, tartar is the brownish or yellow film that forms when unchecked plaque hardens on the surface of your teeth.
Apart from affecting the aesthetic appearance of your teeth and smile, tartar build-up on your teeth creates an excellent environment for bacteria to thrive. If you leave tartar unchecked or unremoved, your teeth will develop cavities in the long run. Tartar build-up beneath the gum line can also put you at risk of periodontal and gum diseases, which can be expensive to treat.
Fortunately, your dentist can remove this stubborn tartar build-up during regular dental exams and check-ups to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Regular dental visits help prevent the need for restorative treatment, which can be costly. As they say, prevention is better than cure, particularly when it comes to dental health matters.
Visiting your dentist at least twice a year allows him/her to check for any possible emerging issue that could become problematic down the line. Some of the ways your dentist could help you prevent significant dental problems down the road include (but are not limited to):
- Applying dental sealants
- Filling cavities
- Prescribing fluoride treatments
Skipping your regular dental appointments means gambling with your future dental and oral health. If you want your teeth to serve you for the longest time possible, you should visit your dentist regularly.
Early Detection
Most oral diseases are easy to treat in their early stages. Hence, it is important to schedule regular dental appointments to give your dentist a chance to catch these problems early. Some of these diseases can be dangerous and more problematic if left untreated, for example, gum disease or oral cancer.
If you have a dental cavity, your dentist can recommend immediate treatment like filling to prevent more severe problems down the road. Your dentist will also check for oral cancer during your routine dental appointments. Although oral cancer is a life-threatening abnormality, it is treatable, especially when detected at its early stages.
To do this, your dentist will carefully assess your oral tissues for abnormal or suspicious changes. Your dentist’s trained eye can detect the early signs of oral cancer before it becomes problematic. If your dentist detects abnormal changes in your mouth, he/she will recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
During your regular dental appointment, your dentist will also explain to you the risk factors that can make you more susceptible to oral cancer, including:
- Smoking
- Age
- Alcohol use
- Bad diet
Assessing Previous Restorations
Regular dental visits are vital, especially if you have dental restorations like veneers, crowns, braces, bridges, or fillings. Your dentist will evaluate your previous dental work during your routine appointment to see if they need adjustments or changes due to wear and tear. If your dental work is loose or wearing out, your dentist can fix it before it falls apart.
Questions and Available Options
Another great benefit of routine dental appointments is the uninterrupted time you will have with your dentist to address your dental concerns. During this period, your dentist can give you several helpful tips on various topics, ranging from choosing the best-fluoridated toothpaste to sensitizing your children to brush their teeth regularly.
If you have questions on how cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile appearance and confidence, your dentist can answer these questions during your routine dental appointments. This private time with your dentist is a great chance to learn one or two things on how to maintain top-notch oral health at home.
Regular dental appointments also help you build a great and friendly relationship with your dentist. A great relationship with your dentist allows him/her to tailor advice specific to your needs for top-notch oral health that you deserve.
Economical Option
Typically, preventative dental services are cheaper than restorative dental services. Keeping your teeth and mouth healthy through routine dental check-ups is cheaper than repairing damaged teeth. Regular dental visits can help you prevent the possible need for expensive and extensive dental procedures like a root canal or gum surgery.
Generally speaking, keeping your teeth healthy through routine dental exams and check-ups allows you to save on dental health costs because you will not need restorative dental services. Fortunately, most dental insurance plans cover routine dental cleaning costs twice a year.
Even if you are uninsured, you will realize paying for basic cleanings is cheaper than extensive restorative procedures.
Better Overall Health
You might not know it, but there is a strong correlation between your oral health and general health. As mentioned above, your mouth is a gate to your body. That means improper oral care can increase your risk of diseases and infections, including heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and several types of cancer.
To pregnant women, improper oral care can even cause issues of preterm labor and miscarriages. Generally, staying on top of your dental appointments is the key to living a healthy life. Apart from maintaining your oral health, frequent dental appointments give your dentist a chance to check for other signs of general health.
If any issue is detected, your dentist will fix it quickly before continuing to more severe problems. Scheduling appointments with your dentist every six months could not be your favorite occasion, but it sure is one of the essential routines you should keep. Apart from ensuring your smile is the brightest, regular dental visits are vital for a healthy life.
Therefore, proper dental and oral care should be a priority if you want to live a healthy life for the longest time possible.
Your Dental Visits Will Be Easier
When you practice excellent oral hygiene habits at home and visit your dentist at least two times a year, preferably after every six months, your dental cleanings will become a breeze. An activity that could give you butterflies will become an exciting experience you will enjoy with every appointment with your dentist.
The more often you let a dentist clean your teeth, the easier your future appointment will be because your teeth will not have as much tartar, stains, and plaque to remove. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will polish the surface of your teeth to create a smooth surface that makes it difficult for tartar and plaque to accumulate, keeping cavities at bay.
Higher Self Esteem and Confidence
Although keeping your teeth healthy is important, you could also want a smile makeover. Fortunately, you can achieve your desired smile appearance through regular dental visits. During your routine cleanings, your dentist will remove tartar and stains on your teeth for the appealing smile that you deserve. If you feel good every time you smile, it can improve your self-esteem and confidence.
Having a radiant smile could seem like the shallowest benefit of regular dental visits, but it has several deeper benefits that come with it. Regular appointments with your dentist are key if you want to keep your teeth whiter and sparkly clean for an appealing smile.
Lessened Risk of Developing Lifelong (Chronic) Infections
Since your oral and dental health is just a part of the bigger system, conditions like gum disease and tooth abscess can worsen to a more severe condition. Generally, gum disease could be a sign of several chronic health issues, including:
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Pneumonia
- Chronic kidney disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Heart disease and stroke
Most chronic diseases like gum disease are irreversible. By scheduling regular dental appointments with your dentist, you prevent plaque and tartar accumulation from damaging your gums and teeth, keeping gum diseases at bay.
Keep Your Original Teeth for the Longest Time Possible
Although dentures are more common among older adults, you will not need them if your teeth are healthy. If you take care of your oral health and teeth now, they can last a lifetime. Fortunately, taking care of your teeth involves just a few steps, including:
- Flossing your teeth daily – Flossing generally helps you remove plaque and food stuck between your teeth
- Brushing your teeth at least twice daily – Brushing helps remove food particles and plaque build-up from your teeth
- Allowing your dentist to examine your teeth at least twice a year – Regular dental visits will allow your dentist to remove plaque and stains you could not remove at home through routine brushing and flossing
- Allowing your dentist to treat problems as soon as they emerge – Do not postpone crucial dental procedures that your dentist will recommend, for example, root canal or fillings. If you do, these underlying issues could worsen, leading to the need for in-depth dental procedures or tooth loss
Generally, the long-term benefits of regular dental visits outweigh any drawbacks these twice-yearly appointments can cause, if any. If you keep up with your dental appointments as required, you will reap both immediate and long-term benefits in the health and look of your teeth.
Improved Teeth Alignment
Although braces work best on children, even adults can wear braces to straighten their misaligned or crowded teeth. If your teeth misalignment issues could resolve when you wear braces, your dentist will let you know during these routine dental appointments.
Also, if you have a child, it is wise to introduce him/her to a dentist early, preferably as he/she turns one. Introducing your child to a dentist at an early age also helps him/her acquire great oral and dental care habits from the jump.
Do not be like most people who only realize the importance of preventative oral care when they experience a tingling pain or sensitivity when eating their favorite meals. To save yourself from the hassle of dealing with preventable dental conditions as you age, you should schedule regular dental appointments with your dentist.
How Do I Find a Reliable Dentist?
Regular trips to your dentist are essential for the health and wellbeing of your gums and teeth. However, how do you find a reliable dentist if you want to change your dentist, or perhaps you are in a new locality? As easy as it could seem, finding a reliable dentist that you can trust with your oral and dental health can be a hell of a hassle.
Since you and your dentist will be long-term partners in your oral health care journey, you should take your time to find a dentist you are comfortable with and one you can trust. Explained below are a few tips that can narrow down your options when searching for a reliable dentist to stay on track with your oral health:
Ask for Recommendations
Finding a dentist that suits your budget can be a daunting task. That is why it is advisable to do your homework and seek recommendations from your friend and family to lessen your options. Your friends will be happy to share their bad and good experiences with a dentist and refer you to a reliable one suitable for your unique needs.
Once you obtain enough recommendations from your friends, colleagues, and relatives, you can conduct research online to see what other clients think about these experts’ services. Ensure you schedule an initial consultation with your prospective dentist before signing any agreement papers to gauge their expertise.
Consider their Experience in the Industry
Although every expert was once an amateur, you cannot risk settling for the services of a dentist with less than two years in this industry. During your first consultation, a reliable dentist will not hesitate to disclose information about his/her experience to you.
If you have dental anxiety, you should look for a dentist with experience with patients like you for the best services that you deserve.
Consider Whether or Not the Dentist Has the Latest Technology
As technology advances over time, a reliable dentist will stay updated with the latest advancement in his/her area of expertise to ensure his/her clients have the best services. Apart from being efficient, modern dentistry technology also helps dentists give accurate and precise treatment.
When searching for a dentist in your area, it is wise to find a dentist that prioritizes your comfortability by investing in modern technology. An office that stays up-to-date with technological advancement in its area of expertise is key.
Consider Whether or Not the Dentist is Licensed
Like any other business, a dentist must apply and obtain proper licensing credentials before offering any service to a patient. If your prospective dentist is unlicensed, you should take that as a sign of incompetency and continue exploring your options.
Consider the Dentist’s Reputation
A dentist’s reputation also speaks volumes about his/her quality of services. Look for a dentist with a positive reputation among his/her past clients. To know whether or not your prospective dentist is reputable, you can check his/her past client reviews or comments on his/her website and social media platforms.
Finally, it is wise to listen to your instincts before settling for the services of any dentist. If you suspect that your prospective dentist is unreliable, it is because he/she is not the one.
Find a Dentist Near Me
Undoubtedly, no other person is in a better place to help you stay on top of your dental and oral health than your dentist. If you are ready to commence your journey to top-notch oral and dental health, patient-focused and compassionate dentists at Tarzana Dental Care are here for you.
We invite you to call us at 818-708-3232 to schedule your first obligation-free consultation with our friendly dentists. Even if you are doing your best to keep your teeth healthy at home, you can never undermine the long-term benefits of regular dental visits. Our dentists are ready to have you as one of our family members as you strive to stay on top of your dental and oral health.