Your dentist has probably already told you time and time again: you should see him every six to twelve months for an exam and cleaning. This frequency may seem short to you, especially if you have good oral health. It is indeed easy to think that routine visits are not necessary when there are no known problems. However, it is very beneficial to have frequent dental appointments. The team at Center Dentaire Georges in LaSalle presents some of these benefits to you here.
To enable early identification of various problems
Routine visits consist of an examination and cleaning. These parts are essential to maintaining your oral health while both play an important preventive role. During the exam, your dentist examines each part of your mouth to check its condition and quickly identify potential problems and ways to control them.
– Tooth decay: Your dentist checks for the presence of lesions and carious spots. X-rays allow us to see cavities located between the teeth or at the root level.
– Gum disease: Bleeding and redness are signs of inflammation and infection, the depth and severity of which will be assessed during the routine visit.
– Oral cancer: The dentist checks the soft tissues for suspicious, potentially cancerous lesions.
– Traces of wear and deterioration: These can be the consequences of bruxism (nocturnal teeth grinding) or be due to other controllable habits.
To maintain good oral health
The other component of the routine visit, cleaning, has certain preventive benefits. During this step, the dental hygienist thoroughly cleans the teeth and the space at the edge of the gums. This operation aims to eliminate plaque and tartar which accumulate at the base of the teeth. Since these deposits are among the main causes of gingivitis and periodontitis, cleaning helps control these diseases. The sanitation of the mouth made possible by cleaning also helps to limit the sources of bacteria which cause cavities and many other pathologies. It is therefore, with the examination, a good way to prevent diseases while keeping a clean and healthy mouth.
To provide the necessary care
Routine visits are also an opportunity to discuss with your treatment team your habits and your general health condition and their impact on your mouth and teeth. Based on our observations and our conversations, we can offer different curative, preventive (occlusal plate or Night Guard against bruxism, sealants, etc.) or restorative treatments. They are also a good way to develop and maintain a relationship of trust with the dental professionals who take care of your smile!
To avoid complex and expensive treatments
Routine visits ultimately help save time and money. Thanks to the rapid diagnostics and preventive measures allowed by dental examinations, it is possible to avoid many problems and, above all, their worsening. It is then easier and less expensive to treat them. For example, it costs much less to fill a mild cavity than to treat a deepening infection with a root canal. The level of complexity and time required by the two procedures also vary considerably.
With this information, you should understand why it is important to visit your Lasalle dentist every six to twelve months, depending on your personal situation. There is no reason to postpone your next appointment until later: your smile will thank you!