Why are dental check-ups important?
When it comes to attending general dental check-ups, most dental patients are less than enthusiastic to do so. Indeed, when most people receive their reminder text message or email, they begin thinking of reasons to not attend the check-up at all!
But, as is the way with dental care, it is generally unwise to postpone dental visits, especially check-ups and, following the issues with COVID-19 and a lack of access to general dental care, now is the best time to visit your dentist to prevent further issues.
But why else should you ensure that you regularly visit your dental Coorparoo for check-ups? Read on to find out.
Dental health
Tooth decay and gum disease are not only proverbial pains in relation to actual discomfort, but they can also cause issues with your appearance and your eating habits. Dental health can easily be maintained with biannual check-ups, which allow your dentist to look for signs of gum disease and tooth decay and work to resolve the problems and prevent recurrence before more complicated issues, such as abscesses, occur.
General health
With poorly maintained oral health comes an accumulation of plaque. And with a build-up of plaque comes secondary issues such as heart disease, other cardiovascular issues, an increased risk of cancer and even strokes. With regular check-ups, your dentist can decrease these risks by removing any plaque that may have formed and offering advice relating to better oral hygiene routines at home.
Oral cancer
In the western world, one of the most common cancers is oral cancer. And it is also one of the easiest to detect and has one of the highest survival rates. When you regularly attend biannual check-ups, your dentist will explore your mouth for any signs of oral cancer and, if any is suspected, they will refer you on to a specialist. Oral cancer screening is particularly important if you are a smoker or if you have a history of oral cancer in your family.
Prevention of tooth loss
In dental care, and indeed most medicine, prevention is better than cure. And while many dental patients presume that tooh loss in adult life is due to decay, in actuality, it is more likely to be due to untreated gum disease, which is both easily detected and treated at a dental check-up.
Indeed, your dentist may be able to prescribe you with instructions on how best to floss if there are moderate signs of gum disease or, in the event that is a bit more advanced, they can offer a scale and polish alongside a medicated mouthwash to remove the bacteria responsible.
Cosmetic
When it comes to cosmetic dental care, such as veneers, whitening or dental implants, before you can undertake such procedures, you need to have a clean bill of dental health first. And that can be tough to obtain if you fail to attend check-ups! Also, regular attendance at your dentist will ensure that you have the ability to discuss any of your cosmetic dental woes with your team and can ask them for advice on how best to resolve them. Perfect!
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.