Because of our commitment to the absolute best dental care, we recommend a checkup every six months. Many dental problems start small, but may become worse if unaddressed. We would like to save our patients a lot of unnecessary time and money. Regular checkups enable us to catch problems before they become serious conditions:
- Plaque buildup
- Gingivitis
- Cracked or leaking fillings
- Bad bite
Regular Cleanings
One treatable problem which could develop into a serious condition, if unnoticed, is the buildup of plaque. Plaque is a sticky film caused by food and bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Plaque can harden in as short as 24 hours to become tartar. Even with proper flossing and brushing, many people are not able to remove plaque daily. The result is tartar buildup.
Plaque and tartar buildup are the main cause of gingivitis, that’s an inflammation that makes gums bleed and swell. Gingivitis’s reversible, but if it isn’t treated; it can cause periodontal disease, which is an infection that leads to bone loss, receding gums, and occasionally tooth loss.
Cavities
The bacteria within plaque can lead to tooth decay. A tiny cavity can simply be fixed, but if it grows into the tooth’s softer inner dentin layer, it can start reaching the pulp chamber very fast, causing pain & further infection.
Failed fillings can also lead to more decay. Unless they’re treated early, decay will most likely lead to a need for root canal treatment and crowns.
Comprehensive Screening
Our checkups include oral cancer screening, and checking for misaligned teeth. We also check your jaw joints, gum health, and look for bone loss.
To keep dental problems from becoming severe, we suggest twice-yearly check-ups. Regular cleanings let us keep tartar from amassing on your teeth. Regular exams are the perfect way to remove the growth phase of dental problems and then minimizing the time and money you spend on the dental chair.
