Want To Avoid the Hassle of Major Dental Work? See a Dentist For Regular Checkups

It’s easy to think of seeing a dentist twice a year as a hassle. But the truth is that regular checkups go a long way towards reducingyour overall number of dental visits in the long run. And that saves you significant time, money, and potential discomfort down the road. So what exactly do your checkups include and how do these visits prevent bigger problems? Keep reading to find out!

What Do Checkups Include?

A checkup is so much more than a simple dental cleaning and “cavity check,” although those are certainly important parts of it. But all of the following are also included in these visits to monitor and maintain every aspect of your oral health:

• Since your mouth and body are closely connected, the first step is a review and update of your medical history
• Routine X-rays (usually once per year)
• A simple, fast, oral cancer screening from both a dentist and hygienist
• A gum evaluation (once per year)
• Professional cleaning and polish
• Personalized oral hygiene tips as needed
• A dental exam to check your teeth and existing dental work to make sure everything is functioning properly

How Do Regular Checkups Prevent Oral Health Problems?

In dentistry, the sooner teeth and gum problems are found, the better. Here are just a few examples of serious dental problems that can be largely avoided by practicing good oral hygiene and seeing a dentist regularly:

• Gum Disease– Gum disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss and also increases your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and pregnancy complications. Finding and treating gum disease early is far easier than waiting until it’s progressed to later stages.
• Emergencies– A dental emergency often strikes when it’s most inconvenient such as a busy workday, vacation, or at 2 am. With regular checkups, a dentist can find these issues early on so you can have them treated when it’s easiest for you.
• Extensive dental work– A small cavity can be found with routine X-rays (before it’s causing pain) and treated with a small, inexpensive filling. But if you wait until you feel pain, the cavity has destroyed more of the tooth structure and is more likely to need either a large filling, dental crown, or even a root canal.

Remember, by spending just two hours a year getting regular checkups, you can avoid many additional hours in the dental chair having more extensive work done. Most people would agree that’s a pretty good return on your investment of time!

About the Author

Dr. Steven Stec  is a Nebraska native and family dentist with over 35 years of experience. In that time, he’s seen how vital routine dental care is to patients of all ages because it can largely prevent the need for major dental work. If you have any questions or want to schedule a checkup, he can be contacted via his website.