You are probably aware that regular dentist visits are vital, but you may never have stopped to consider why. Of course, having your teeth cleaned twice a year can help you look and feel your best, but regular appointments can also have a long-term effect on your oral health. Here are 3 reasons to see your dentist on a regular basis.
1. Prevention
While brushing and flossing are certainly vital to oral health, they are not enough on their own. Professional dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar that brushing cannot fully clear. Deep cleaning, scaling, and root planing are more invasive and more expensive, but they may be required if you have been putting off regular dental visits.
In addition, your twice-annual appointments let your dentist check for new issues that could worsen over time. Filling tiny cavities, coating your teeth with dental sealants, and adding fluoride treatments to your routine are just a few ways that your dentist can help you avoid major procedures such as root canals, or even problems such as tooth shifting, down the line. If you skip your regular visits, you are gambling with your future oral health.
2. Early Detection
Oral cancer can become deadly in its later stages, but it is easy to treat when caught early. Gum disease can eventually cause tooth loss and even raise your risk for such problems as stroke or heart attack, but it can be halted and even reversed with early detection. At each appointment, your dentist will carefully examine your mouth for suspicious changes, and then create a treatment plan to address any problems that are found.
3. Assessment of Previous Work
If you have had any previous dental work done such as fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers, or sealants, it is important to have those items checked regularly. Although they last a long time, they do eventually start to show signs of wear. At each appointment, your dentist will thoroughly assess your previous dental work for any developing issues, and then develop a plan to fix anything that is starting to wear out before it breaks altogether.
Other Benefits
Other benefits of seeing your dentist regularly include the opportunity to ask questions on every topic from the best toothpaste to how to get your kids to brush without a fight. You can decide whether you want to improve your smile through cosmetic dentistry. You can even check the facts behind various rumors and internet memes regarding oral health fads.
Although it is not necessarily easy to fit regular dentist visits into a busy life, the rewards are well worth the trouble. It is always better to focus on maintenance and improvement rather than taking the risk of facing a mountain of escalating emergency issues, which can be expensive and potentially dangerous to your oral and overall physical health.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are searching for an experienced, trustworthy dentist in Framingham, we invite you to contact Metrowest Prosthodontics today at (508) 620-6622 to schedule your first appointment.