DO YOU REALLY NEED REGULAR DENTAL CHECKUPS?

You are the poster child for brushing and flossing. Is it really necessary to see your dentist and hygienist every six months? After all, it’s really a pain to find time in your busy day to schedule those routine appointments. Regular dental visits are important because they help keep your teeth and gums healthy. We know that an early diagnosis is key to curing many diseases and maladies. Diseases of the mouth are no different. Certainly you can catch a cavity while a simple filling is all you need, but such examinations can also catch gum diseases and oral cancers as well. You should have a regular dental visit at least every 6 months.

There are 2 parts to a regular dental visit. One part is the check-up. The other is the cleaning.

The check-up

Your dental professional will check for cavities and to see if there is plaque or tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases.

Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper. The check-up should also include your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble, swelling, or cancer.

The cleaning

Brushing and flossing help clean the plaque from your teeth, but you can’t remove tartar at home. During the cleaning, your dental professional will use special tools to remove tartar. This is called scaling.

After your teeth are scaled, they may be polished. In most cases, a gritty paste is used for this. It helps to remove any surface stains on your teeth.

The final step is flossing. Your dental professional will use floss to make sure the areas between your teeth are clean. And you’re done.

Most dental insurances will pay 100% for routine dental examinations and cleanings. They know that it can save them from paying for expensive procedures later, expensive procedures that they do not pay at 100%. This can leave you with a bill for hundreds of dollars. Why take your chances when a few minutes in a dentist’s chair can prevent it?

Here at Apple Dental we are patient centered. We know your time and your money are important to you and we will work with you to make routine dental care as painless to your schedule and wallet as it is to your mouth. Give us a call today.