Why Dental Health Checkups Are So Important

An ounce of prevention can go a long way when it comes to your oral health. Regular checkups can identify problems early before they become major issues that can damage not just your oral health, but your overall health. Here's why regular checkups are so important, courtesy of the dentists at Great Lakes Dental.

The Basics

At each dental checkup, your dentist looks at the basics – do you have plaque or cavities? Any signs of gum disease? In addition, this checkup can find problems like chipped or cracked teeth, signs of uneven wear or thinning enamel and other problems that if treated early won't get worse. A professional cleaning also helps keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Screening for oral Cancer

Dental checkups offer your hygienist and dentist the opportunity to screen for abnormalities in the mouth, such as oral cancer. In addition to a visual scan, we can utilize use a special tool called a Velscope that highlights areas of oral tissue that are more suspicious.

Other Oral Health Problems

Tooth pain and gum disease are two conditions that can be caught and dealt with when you go in for regular checkups. Pain isn't always because of a cavity; in fact, cavities rarely hurt unless left untreated for a long time. But pain could be a sign you're grinding your teeth or have a broken tooth or abscess. Gum disease can affect your whole body as well as your mouth.

What's the Schedule?

Most dentists and hygienists recommend you come in for a professional cleaning and checkup at least every six months. You should have X-rays periodically as well to see if there are problems behind the scenes. In some cases, such as when you have a chronic disease or other underlying health issues, you may need more frequent check-ups.

A Typical Visit

The first step in a checkup is a professional cleaning. where X-rays, a gum disease screening, and photos in your mouth are taken. Your dentist will then conduct a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth, head and neck. Finally, the dentist will discuss the findings with you and make recommendations for treatment or suggest changes in your oral hygiene routine.

Don't neglect regular dental checkups. Your oral health is too important to the rest of your health. Please contact us to schedule at an appointment.