As soon as we start growing baby teeth, we begin to visit our dentists on a regular basis. When we reach adulthood, we might think attending dentist appointments so often is a hassle. But these dental check-ups are crucial to maintaining good oral health.
Do not skip your routine dentist appointment, even if you think it is no big deal. Understanding why you should attend these dental visits can encourage you to keep these appointments. Read on to learn more about the importance of routine care from your dentist in Silver Spring, MD.
What Happens During a Routine Dentist Appointment?
When you visit your dentist’s office for a routine appointment, your dentist will start with a teeth cleaning. They scrape plaque and tartar build-up from your teeth, especially in hard-to-reach spots like near your gum line.
You remove excess plaque and other harmful residues when you complete your oral hygiene routine. But your toothbrush and floss might not reach all areas in the mouth. And if plaque lingers, it will eat away at your teeth, causing severe dental damage.
This teeth cleaning along with oral exams from your dentist, therefore, make up crucial preventative dental care that will lower your risk of dental emergencies. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums for early signs of dental problems like cavities or gum disease that you might not notice on your own. Then they can intervene and treat them before they progress to irreversible harm.
How Often Should I Schedule Dental Check-Ups?
A dentist will recommend that the average dental patient should attend routine appointments every six months. This makes for the ideal window to clean teeth before plaque and tartar will create problems and to diagnose any issues before they advance.
However, some patients might need to see their dentist on a more frequent basis. Senior-aged patients, those with a high likelihood of developing tartar, and people with underlying medical concerns might need to visit their dentist three or four times a year. You should consult your dentist to find a personalized preventative dental care plan that suits your unique dental goals and needs.
What Do I Do During a Dental Emergency?
Accidents can happen to the best of us. You might suffer from a dental problem even when you practice diligent preventative care. For instance, a blow to the face could generate impact trauma that may loosen a tooth or cause it to fall out.
If you experience a dental emergency like this, you should not wait until your next regularly scheduled appointment to talk to your dentist. Call your dentist right away, especially if you knock out a tooth. Time could be of the essence to successfully restore your smile.
The dentist will likely ask you to come to their office for an urgent dental evaluation. They can provide treatment quickly so that they can resolve the problem and prevent it from worsening. Delaying this care could result in permanent dental damage.