Dentist visits aren’t exactly what most people look forward to or what most would call a good time. However, dental appointments are indeed one of the most important appointments to keep regularly scheduled. These appointments shouldn’t be made when you’re experiencing a problem that needs to be addressed; preventing oral problems from happening is key.
There are a few reasons why many people put off scheduling dental appointments, but there are two main two reasons. One reason is that they have severe anxiety about going (likely from a traumatic or painful experience). It’s estimated that nearly three percent of men and over four percent of women suffer from dentophobia (extreme fear of the dentist). The second reason is that they just don’t have the finances to pay for treatment. Yes, most dental insurance policies cover some or all of routine visit costs, but it all depends on the type of insurance you have, and what’s included in your policy.
For those who put off dental visits due to fear or anxiety about what will happen during the appointment, it usually helps if you know what a typical routine visit entails. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect during your routine visit.
Routine Dental Visit Expectations
During a typical dental visit, you can expect an examination and cleaning of your teeth. During the examination, your dentist will check for cavities, plaque, and tartar. When checking for cavities, the dentist may even perform x-rays to detect cavities. When checking for plaque and tartar, it’s important to understand the difference between the two. Plaque is a clear film of bacteria on your teeth that can harden and turn into tartar if it’s not removed. Tartar can’t be removed with regular daily brushing and flossing; it also can be the leading cause of different oral diseases as well. This reason alone is why it’s so important to establish a regular Dental Routine.
After those areas are checked, the dentist will then check your gums with a tool that measures the depth of the spaces between your teeth. When you have healthy gums, the spaces between your teeth are narrow; when you have gum disease, the spaces between your teeth are much deeper. In addition to that, your dentist will also check your neck, face, throat, head, and tongue to check for other signs of health concerns such as cancer.
Lastly, your teeth will be cleaned. If you have tartar build-up on your teeth, your dentist will then use a special tool to remove the tartar, and then will polish your teeth, leaving you with beaming pearly whites. If there are other concerns detected during your visit, the dentist will likely have you set up future appointments to address the other concerns found during the examination.
The whole point of regular dental visits is to avoid potential oral health concerns. So the more you tend to your oral health, the better your visits will go. Below, you find a few reasons why dental checkups are so essential.
Detecting Oral Cancer
Checking for oral cancer is one of the most important checks your dentist will perform at every visit. Putting off dental visits increases your likelihood of oral cancer without even knowing it. Dentists are trained to recognize the signs of oral cancer and early detection is key to successfully treating it. Typically, an oral cancer exam is non-invasive and painless. The exam checks for dead tissue caused by tumors. This exam could potentially save your life!
Preventing Gum Disease
Plaque and tartar buildup is the number one cause of not only tooth decay but also the erosion of your mouth’s gum tissues. When an infection happens where the tooth is connected to the gums, the gum pulls away from the tooth. This infection is called gingivitis, and once gingivitis is detected, you officially have gum disease, which also leads to bleeding, swelling, and overall soreness of your mouth. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, it can possibly require multiple visits to the dentist to bring your mouth to a healthy state.
Treating and Preventing Plaque, Tartar, and Cavities
Believe it or not, even if you have the most diligent oral care routine, there will still be some areas of your mouth that regular brushing and flossing can’t reach. Because of this, plaque will build up and turn into tartar if not treated regularly. That reason alone is why it’s important that you get regular dental checkups to avoid this instance.
Finding Problems Undetectable to the Naked Eye Through X-Rays
One of the very important aspects of regular dental visits is the aspect of teeth and jaw bone x-rays. These x-ray images allow dentists to see what’s going on under the surface of your mouth that isn’t visible to the naked eye. These problems can include issues such as impacted teeth, jawbone damage, cysts, bone decay, and tumors.
Keeping Your Oral Health in Check
Going to the dentist can bring about a great deal of anxiety, however, your oral health plays a very important role in positively contributing to your overall health. There are Dentists in Palmdale that not only provide regular dental cleanings and exams, but also provide full-service dentistry as well, including smile make-overs, TMJ treatments, and orthodontics. To keep your oral health in check call Smile Dental Group to schedule your initial visit.
