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It’s important to make dental visits a priority for the sake of your oral health. When was your last dental checkup? If you can’t remember then it has been too long! You could be missing out on early detection of dental disease or allowing hardened tartar to build up in excess if you have skipped the recommended dental cleaning and checkup appointments every six months. Visiting the dentist twice a year isn’t too much to ask: Just a couple of hours in a single year could mean the difference between advancing dental disease and a clean bill of dental health.

How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?

It is recommended that you visit your dentist every six months for both a dental cleaning and an exam with your dentist. A professional dental cleaning is necessary to remove tartar buildup, which is hardened plaque that cannot be removed at home. An exam is also vital to monitor your oral health.

The Importance of Dental Checkups

When your dentist examines your teeth, he or she is looking for signs of tooth decay or gum disease. These forms of disease can be damaging, but when detected early, they are often easily treatable and reversible. Missed appointments often result in missed opportunities to spot symptoms of dental disease before they become more severe. A cavity starts as a small concern that is easily fixed, yet if left untreated, a cavity can deepen and widen to become a form of tooth decay that threatens the structure and stability of your tooth. It is always better to prevent dental concerns rather than treat them, which makes dental exams so important. Dental exams are also important to screen for oral cancer.

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

  • A dental hygienist will use dental instruments to remove plaque and tartar buildup
  • The hygienist may floss or use a water device to better clean spaces between teeth
  • Your teeth surfaces will be polished
  • You may have x-rays and/or photos of your teeth taken to better examine the health of your teeth and gums

Ease Anxiety with Sedation Dentistry

Do you have anxiety or fear about visiting the dentist? The use of nitrous oxide and oral sedation in sedation dentistry can help you relax and ease fears for your dental appointment.