The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups: How Often Should You Go?

​Prevention Is Key: An Overview of the Dental Checkup Procedure

A dental checkup typically involves a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and all other oral features. It is often a treatment protocol in preventive dentistry that allows you to maintain excellent oral health.

Generally, when you step into a dental clinic, the dentist near you will review your medical history, physically and digitally examine your oral features, recommend a teeth cleaning session, then recommend other treatments where necessary.

The primary objective of a dental checkup is to identify all underlying oral problems by detecting anomalies early. You can avoid complications when you begin treatment early, including permanent and life-threatening outcomes. Still, one dental cist is not enough for optimal oral success. Visit a dentist near you routinely for dental checkups.

​The Role of Your Dentist During A Checkup

Your dentist plays a crucial role in ensuring your oral health is in good condition. Some of the roles of your dentist during a checkup at Ellerslie Dental Clinic are:

1. Checking for anomalies: Your dentist will examine your oral features, like teeth, gums, tongue, throat, and even the neck region, for any signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and other dental issues.
2. Reviewing and understanding your dental history: Your dentist will review your previous treatments or procedures to understand your oral health.
3. Taking X-rays: When necessary, the dentist uses X-rays to detect any underlying issues that may not be visible during a physical exam.
4. Providing a diagnosis: A dentist must come up with an accurate diagnosis based on the results of the tests.
5. Recommending treatments: It is up to your dentist to determine the best course of action to address all the identified dental issues found during the exam.
6. Providing oral hygiene instructions: Your dentist will provide instructions for proper care for your teeth and gums, including tips on brushing, flossing, and techniques and products for good oral hygiene habits.
7. Offering preventive measures: All dentists are keen on preventive measures such as fluoride treatments, dental sealants, or mouthguards to prevent future dental problems.

Saving Money By Preventing Dental Problems

The real question you should ask yourself is, do regular dental checkups save you money? Frankly, it can feel cumbersome to visit a dentist in South West Edmonton every 6 months. Underlying oral problems like gum disease or smoking necessitate more frequent visits, even up to every 3 or 4 months. Therefore, you should at least understand the benefits of routine dental exams & cleanings in South West Edmonton. They can help you save money in several ways:

1. Detecting dental problems early: Your dentist can identify potential oral problems before they become severe and require costly treatment. For example, a small cavity can be treated with a simple filling. However, if left untreated, it becomes more serious, requiring a root canal or even extraction.
2. Avoiding emergency issues: Regular checkups can prevent sudden oral emergencies, such as a severe toothache or broken tooth, which can be expensive to treat because they require immediate attention.
3. Early detection of oral cancer: During a routine dental checkup, your dentist will screen for signs of oral cancer. Ideally, if left untreated, oral cancer can be life-threatening. Besides, early detection and treatment can save you from expensive medical bills associated with cancer treatment.
4. Maximizing dental insurance benefits: Many dental insurance plans cover routine checkups and cleanings at 100%. Regular checkups help you take advantage of these benefits to avoid paying out-of-pocket for more expensive treatments later.

Other Benefits of Regular Dental Checkups

Aside from saving you money, regular dental checkups offer several other benefits, including:

1. Maintain good oral health – by detecting and treating any dental problems at an early stage. Dentists also guide you on proper oral hygiene practices, such as brushing and flossing techniques to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
2. Prevent bad breath – by identifying and treating underlying infections that may contribute to the problem.
3. Keeping your teeth looking great – by removing stains and tartar buildup during dental cleanings, keeping your teeth looking bright and healthy.
4. Monitoring and improving overall health – did you know poor oral health is linked to several health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes?