If you miss regular dental health check-ups because you do not think it is essential. Let us tell you that neglecting your dental health can have serious complications. Do you know that various diseases can be diagnosed early on from regular dental check-ups?

Various studies have shown that the bacteria causing heart disease is the same bacteria causing gum disease. Getting regular health checkups done is critical for early intervention for any dental disease to stop its progression.

In the information provided below, we will briefly discuss dental health check-ups.

Difference between dental checkups and dental treatments

Dental check-ups are thorough oral health examinations done regularly to check for early signs of decay, plaque build-up, or other dental problems. On the other hand, dental treatments mean treating the dental conditions with proper treatment planning for a better prognosis.

Dental checkups should be done regularly at six-month intervals to avoid extensive dental treatments. Dental check-ups can include simple cleaning and polishing your teeth if there is any plaque buildup. Whereas in dental treatments, deep cleaning is done to improve the health of your gums.

Why do I need dental checkups?

Dental check-ups are required to catch the early signs of any dental disease to stop its progression at an early stage. These visits allow your dentist to address the conditions which might go unnoticed.

Regular visits at the dental office can also help you better understand the oral hygiene practices that should be followed to maintain good oral health. Studies have shown that people who went for regular health check-ups could diagnose and treat their dental diseases on time and prevent further losses to overall health.

How often should I visit my dentist?

Two visits in a year are recommended for an ideal scenario; you can visit three to four times if you want. In this visit, your dentist will perform an essential dental examination followed by a radiographic analysis if required for your teeth and jawbones. 

If you have got any dental treatment done, for example, a root canal treatment or a dental implant placement, six months interval is a good enough time to follow up on these cases as well.

A regular follow-up on the dental treatments performed enhances the prognosis because of a timely intervention possible in case of any abnormality noticed by the dentist.

Why do some people need to see the dentist more frequently

Certain people tend to have teeth decay or gums problems due to their habits or genetic predisposition. Such people should visit the dentist more often than others. 

Factors that affect how often you should visit your dentist are:

Lifestyle and habits

If you have a diet with an excess of simple sugars and drinking aerated drinks that tend to harm your teeth, you must visit your dentist regularly. Smoking and drinking alcohol are also primary criteria that affect your oral health.

Attitude towards dental health

If your attitude towards oral health is good and you follow all the oral hygiene measures with the utmost care, then it is less likely that you need to visit your dentist more than twice a year. The more committed you are to maintaining a healthy routine, the less likely you will visit the dental clinic.

Medical conditions

If you have any medical condition like diabetes, then there are chances of your oral health being affected more than others.

Genetics

If you are prone to having more cavities, you will put extra effort into maintaining good oral health. One crucial step in putting extra effort to keep good dental health is regular dental health checkups.

Important information that must be shared with your dentist

The general health of a person and dental health is interrelated. Before your dentist examines your dental health, you must inform him about certain essential aspects of your medical health like-

• Medical history, for example, diabetes, hypertension, liver or kidney diseases
• Any medications you are taking for any chronic ailments
• Any drug allergies
• Any past dental history episode where you had to face any issues while getting dental treatment done

What is a typical visit be like

A typical dental visit will comprise of the following essential steps.

• Clinical examination- in this step, the dentist will carefully examine the teeth and surrounding structures for any early signs of any dental disease.
• Radiographic analysis- if required, the dentist might perform a radiographic examination of your teeth and surrounding bones for better treatment planning.
• Scaling and polishing- if there is an initial plaque build-up, then simple cleaning and polishing can be done in the same visit itself.
• Informing about future dental treatments if required- the proper treatment plan will be formulated, and you will be notified in detail about the dental procedures to be done.

What is included in comprehensive dental examination

A comprehensive dental examination is different from a simple examination as it not only involves checking your teeth and gums but also includes an examination of the following structures-

• Neck region for any palpable lymph nodes
• Temporomandibular joint
• Palpating the soft tissue of the mouth
• Examination of the occlusion 
• Carefully examining any old fillings, dentures, and prostheses.

These types of examinations are usually done for the patients visiting for the first time at your clinic, but it should be done at least once a year for every regular patient. The comprehensive dental examination helps in the screening of any abnormal overgrowth or any distant metastasis and can help prevent any major health problems.