Do you have a dental appointment coming up but are considering canceling since your teeth feel fine? Has it been awhile since your last dental visit, but you simply don’t see the benefit of seeing us until you actually experience a problem? Are you afraid of what your dental visit might uncover, or do you have dental anxiety that keeps you out of our office? If any of these scenarios sound like you, we want to help, and we’ve outlined some of the important reasons that you should keep up with your regular dental visits.
Identify and Treat Problems in their Earliest Stages
Arguably the biggest reason that you should keep up with your regular dental appointments is so that we can identify and treat problems in their earliest stages. Even the most diligent of brushers and flossers may sometimes develop a cavity, and when you visit our office regularly, we can spot them when they are in their earliest stages. At this point, they are still relatively easy – and inexpensive – to treat. The longer that you wait to visit us, the more complicated that the treatment will become, so you will ultimately save money by coming in to your six-month dental checkups.
Another important issue that we will look for in your mouth is oral cancer. This disease affects many people, especially those who use or have used tobacco. The only way to make sure that you aren’t living with oral cancer is to visit our office, as you may not experience symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. We provide thorough oral cancer checks to make sure that you don’t have signs of the disease.
Prevent Future Oral Health Issues
Another important component of a regularly-scheduled dental exam is the dental cleaning. During your cleaning, a hygienist will clean your teeth thoroughly, removing plaque and tartar accumulations. While you can keep plaque levels under control at home, once it forms tartar, you’ll need a professional to remove it before it leads to decay and other problems. This hard substance cannot be removed with a traditional toothbrush, and it requires the specialized tools in your dental office to clean it.
Enjoy a Beautiful Smile
If you want to maintain a beautiful, white smile, you need to keep up with your regular dental appointments. Regular dental cleanings involve a polishing process that will remove some surface stains, but cosmetic dentistry procedures can further keep your smile looking healthy and bright. Veneers, teeth whitening, and bonding are all great options to help you get the beautiful smile of your dreams.
Detect Problems Hidden Under the Surface
Typically, we recommend dental x-rays once a year, as these images provide vital information about what is going on under the surfaces of your mouth. Dental x-rays allow us to detect problems that might not be visible during a standard exam, including impacted teeth, infections, and decay. These tests are especially at detecting destructive diseases that may not show any outward symptoms but progress quickly.
Another benefit of dental x-rays is to examine the health of the jawbone. X-ray images can pinpoint jawbone damage, bone decay, cysts, or tumors. Finding these oral issues in their earliest stages are crucial in order to treat them properly.
Preventive dentistry is one of our specialties, and we feel strongly about examining your teeth every six months. Whether you are a new patient or someone who has been in our office before, you can schedule by calling 479-646-0706 or using our convenient online appointment request form. We are here to help, and we look forward to meeting with you to discuss your dental health concerns and needs.
