Routine Dental Check Ups

How often should you have a preventive dental check-up and why

Dental diseases develop over several months. Therefore, doctors recommend visiting the clinic approximately every six months for preventive purposes. During this period, signs of caries or other diseases can become visually apparent, and soft bacterial plaque can turn into a hard one – such mineralized deposits are called tartar. However, in the early stages, the problem can be solved without prolonged, expensive, or painful treatment.

In children, dental and gum diseases develop faster, so a child can be brought to the dentist more often, once every 3-4 months.

It is important to understand that caries does not go away on its own. If the disease occurs, it will progress. Barely noticeable black spots, if no measures are taken in time, will turn into cavities that attract attention. This can lead to pulpitis, and in the worst case – to tooth loss.

Even one diseased tooth unit is a serious threat to the body. It puts a strain on the immune system and jeopardizes other organs – the infection can reach them through the bloodstream.

Therefore, you need to visit the dentist periodically. The doctor will examine the patient, and if signs of disease are detected, will offer treatment.

Advantages

The doctor:

• examines the oral cavity to assess the condition of the teeth and their canals, gums, and mucous membranes;
• takes X-rays if necessary – they will be useful if the results of the visual examination are insufficient;
• with the patient’s consent, performs professional teeth cleaning – it is difficult to completely remove plaque at home, especially if tartar has formed on the enamel;
• answers questions and gives recommendations on oral care – for example, you can discuss the choice of toothbrush and toothpaste for regular use.

The benefits of regular preventive check-ups are:

• early diagnosis – any diseases are easier to treat when they are at an early stage, and dental diseases are no exception;
• professional cleaning – you can get rid of hard plaque and slightly improve the color of your teeth if enamel darkening is caused by tartar formation;
• obtaining useful information – the patient learns more about how to care for their teeth;
• cost savings – in the long run, regular visits to the doctor are beneficial because you won’t have to pay for complex, expensive treatments for advanced diseases.