Do You Really Need To Go To The Dentist Every 6 Months?

You might think that going to a dentist every six months is a lot, and you would wonder if anything can change drastically in your oral space in six months. Because of such a thought process, many adults skip their regular dental visits. Missing visits to your dentist could also be because of forgetfulness, inconvenience, embarrassment, or fear. 

You might consider it a hassle to see your dentist every six months, but it might have disastrous effects on your oral health. ADA (American Dental Association) recommends visiting your dentist at least once a year. Still, if you are prone to cavities and other dental issues, you can avoid them only by meeting your doctor every six months. 

The hallmark of modern dentistry is the prevention of oral diseases which is achieved by encouraging patients to brush and floss regularly, eat a healthy and nutrient-dense diet, use toothpaste that has fluoride in it, use mouthwashes, and a few other such oral regimens. In a dental office, prevention denotes oral examination semi-annually and dental prophylaxis (involves professional teeth cleaning.)

 

If you are someone who feels such frequent visits to dental offices are not needed, read on to understand the significance of these visits and how they can save your teeth from decay and other expensive procedures.

What Is The Difference Between Dental Checkups and Dental Treatment?

During dental checkups, the doctor would perform a routine oral examination and cleaning, whereas a dental treatment denotes a specialized procedure to treat specific issues such as teeth removal, deep cleaning, root canal, fillings, and more. 

• You would schedule dental treatment with your doctor on a need-basis.
• Dental checkups follow a regular schedule where you meet your dentist even without any obvious dental issues.
• If you plan regular dental checkups, you can avoid and prevent the necessity of any dental treatments.

Why You Need To Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months

All of us need to visit our dentist as per a planned schedule. You might not notice, but your dental doctor is able to find out hidden dental and other oral health issues. If you do not visit your dentist regularly, you might have untreated conditions which can become more painful and expensive to treat down the line.

• Plaque and tartar – Even if we diligently brush and floss our teeth as per our dentist’s recommendation, it is impossible to reach some areas in our mouth. These hidden nooks and corners develop plaque and tartar that needs immediate attention and removal to maintain excellent oral health. 

If plaque and tartar are not eradicated, it will lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and eventual loss of teeth. These infections could also affect the overall well-being of a person.

• Oral cancer check – Though it is likely for any of us to get oral cancer, people who drink and smoke are more susceptible to this condition. You can increase your chances of survival by finding it out as early as possible.
• X-Rays – Sometimes, you might have a potential problem going on in your teeth or gums which is not visible to the naked eye. With a dental X-ray, your dentist would be able to identify such issues and can address them more easily, less painfully, and in a less expensive manner.
• Prevent bad habits – Many of us have bad habits such as smoking, grinding our teeth, clenching our jaw, consuming lots of sweet foods and beverages, drinking highly pigmented beverages such as coffee and red wine, chewing on ice, brushing too hard, etc. 

When you visit your dentist, s/he can educate you on how to get rid of these unhealthy habits and also recommend options on how to deal with them.

• Illness in other parts of the body – Many studies and research have revealed that your oral health has a close link with your overall health. Those of us who do not visit our dental doctors regularly and neglect our oral health is at risk of not only developing teeth and gum disease but also risk complications in other body parts. Some critical health conditions related to dental health are diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke.

 

• Save money – When your dental issue is identified in its early stage, it will cost you much less to treat it than at a later stage.

What Happens in a Regular Dental Checkup?

A lot of us are intimidated by a dental office and avoid going there at the risk of impacting our oral health. If you know what happens in a regular dental checkup, it will ease your mind while visiting our dentist.

• The doctor would perform a thorough examination of your gums, teeth, and entire mouth.
• Get information about your food habits along with smoking and tobacco consumption information.
• Enquire about your overall health and any oral issues you experienced after your last visit.
• Screen your blood pressure.
• Perform oral cancer screening.
• Perform radiographic examination (digital X-rays.)
• Full mouth professional cleaning followed by teeth polishing procedure.
• Advise you on how to improve your oral hygiene.
• If there are any dental problems, your dentist would recommend treatment options for them.
• Lastly, your dental doctor would set up a date for your next appointment, which could be sooner than six months or even later, depending on your oral condition at the time of the visit.

Whether you have an active dental issue or not, it is necessary to visit your dentist twice a year. You might not be able to see, but there could be potential oral problems that are not visible to the naked eye. Your dentist can perform tests to identify and cure them early on to save you money and also pain.