Just How Important Are Regular Dental Checkups?

 

Why is it important to attend regular dental examinations at a dentist in Livonia? That’s an easy question with two answers. First, you’re (probably) not a dentist. Second, you (probably) don’t have a full suite of dental equipment and tools at home. Still not convinced? There are other compelling reasons besides.

Attending regular dental checkups is essential for multiple reasons that become clear when you realize that every appointment includes two parts: a thorough examination and a complete cleaning.

The examination

During the checkup, your dentist will examine every surface of every tooth (including surfaces of your teeth that you can not see in your mirror no matter how closely you look yourself) and every portion of your gums (including areas of your gums that you can not see in your mirror no matter how closely you look yourself). What will your dentist look for? This is where the expertise of the dentist near you comes into play. You may be a great plumber, teacher, baker or basket-maker, but your dentist is a specialist in your oral health. Your dentist will watch for the earliest possible signs of dental issues and even oral cancer that may become apparent to them long before any symptoms come to your notice.

Depending on what your dentist finds during that examination, dental x-rays may also be requisitioned to give you and your dentist a glimpse inside your teeth and jaws. (You don’t happen to have a dental x-ray machine at home, do you?) Only a comprehensive look at the inside of your teeth and jaw will conclusively assuage any concerns about the need for root canal treatment, wisdom tooth extraction or even advancing periodontitis.

The cleaning

Every dentist in Livonia will also clean your teeth at every regular dental checkup. A professional cleaning by your dentist extends far beyond what you try to achieve when you brush and floss. Your dentist and their staff will remove any plaque left behind by brushing and flossing, and any tartar that has developed because plaque has lingered for too long. Surfaces of your teeth that you can’t even see, never mind reach and probe, will then be polished.

How often should you get a dental checkup?

If you have generally good oral health and are carefully dedicated to good dental habits, you should visit your dentist in Livonia every six months. That will give your dentist the chance to identify early signs of any emerging issues and to respond while effective solutions can be achieved quickly and minimally invasively.

If you have significant risk factors for gum disease or cavities, seeing your dentist in Livonia every six months may not be enough. People at a high risk of tooth decay or periodontal disease or undergoing active dental treatment should attend a regular dental checkup every three months. Regular checkups and dental cleanings will support the treatment being received for those conditions or risks and permit a greater degree of surveillance over the health of your teeth and gums.

Under no circumstances should you ever go more than a year without undergoing dental examinations near you. Over time, plaque that innocently lingers despite your best brushing and flossing hardens into tartar (sometimes called calculus). The longer you wait before having that plaque removed — and that is not something you can do at home yourself — the greater the risk of advancing tooth decay and periodontal disease that will place your teeth, gums and general health at risk.

Has it been more than a few months since you’ve undergone a dental checkup? If so, get in touch with a dentist near you to arrange a thorough checkup and cleaning.