07 Jan Why is Routine Dentistry So Important?
Posted by: Jodie Blades Dental Nurse NVQ Level 3
Medically reviewed by: Dr Peta Leigh BDS (Melb), BSc (Monash) GDC: 78758 | Award-winning General and Whitening Dentist
To truly maintain healthy gums and teeth and avoid other oral health problems, regular routine dentist visits are essential.
Why is Routine Dentistry so Important?
by Willow Tree Dental and Orthodontic Centre on Routine Dentistry, Dental Emergencies and Dental Hygiene
Really taking care of your teeth takes more than just brushing and flossing twice a day. You must keep up with routine dentistry and your dental exams as often as you are prescribed. Typically, you should have a dental exam every 6 months. But this can change for people with exceptional oral health, we see these patients just once a year.
Waiting until a problem arises is really common. But it is not at all advised. Dental problems can occur and be left to progress to irreversible states meaning dental emergencies are far more likely.
You’ll save money!
Attending regularly means that problems can be spotted before they require costly dental treatments. Decay when it is small and only into your enamel is relatively cheap to treat. If decay is left to progress into your dentine or even worse, down into the live part of your tooth. You will require a larger filling and even root canal treatment.
Prevent Emergency Treatment
We have seen a large number of people visit for their first time when they are in agony. Doing so isn’t nice for you. You want your dental experiences to be calm and reassuring but when you’re in pain your fears can be heightened.
Prevent Tooth Loss
Dental infection and gum disease can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. Finding decay and gum inflammation at a routine dental exam when it is in its early stages means that you can intervene. Stopping it in its tracks and preventing tooth loss.
What’s checked at a dental exam?
When you visit Willow Tree Dental one of our expert dentists will assess your hard and soft tissues.
- Your teeth
- Your existing fillings and restorations,
- Your cheeks, tongue and all other oral soft tissues.
- The glands in your head and neck.
- Visually screen for any signs of oral cancers.
- Dental decay
- Gum disease (any receding or swollen gums)
- The health of your TMJ (jaw joint).
Our team will take routine x-rays at an appropriate interval for you and where it is clinically indicated to do so. The x-rays show us everything we cannot see in your mouth. Your bone height, between your teeth and the root and the surrounding bone of each tooth.
Why else is Routine Dentistry so important?
Routine dental checkups are about your total health care, not just your teeth! Poor dental health is also linked to a number of health problems such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. Like other areas of the body, your mouth teems with bacteria — mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause disease.
See a Hygienist routinely too!
Everyone needs to see a hygienist! (even us dentists). The most avid of flossers with the strictest oral hygiene regime will still miss somewhere. And require the skilled treatment and specialist tools of a dental hygienist. Tying the two together is a very popular approach. But, visiting at a separate interval will give your teeth and gums another opportunity to be looked over! Decreasing the risk of things being left progress even further.
Related: 5 Reasons to see a dental hygienist
New Patient Dental Exam just £75 inc Radiographs
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