Routine care is important for many different areas of your life.
Scheduled oil changes are important to keep your car in good shape and avoid costly repairs. Updating your computer regularly is essential to avoiding viruses and other issues. The same logic applies to your teeth with routine dental care.
Your teeth are used every single day – and the buildup of plaque and bacteria never stops. If left unchecked, the buildup can spiral into serious dental problems like excessive decay, cavities, gum disease, and more. Regular cleaning and check-ups keep dental issues at bay and help you look your best when you open your mouth.
At The Dental House, routine dental care is one of our primary services – and we’d like to discuss its importance in more detail in how it translates to good oral health. Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Understanding Routine Dental Care
Routine dental care involves regular visits – usually at least twice per year – to your dentist for evaluations, deep cleanings, and preventive treatments. In these routine appointments, we’ll look for problems in their early stages. This would involve symptoms of cavities, gum disease, infections, and so on.
Tooth decay works relatively slowly. If we can examine your teeth twice per year, we should be able to catch issues before extensive treatment is needed.
For example, if an X-ray shows tooth decay has advanced beyond the enamel, we can mitigate the issue with a filling. On the other hand, if it’s been several years since your last check-up, the decay may have reached the nerve – and we’d likely have to perform a root canal.
Visiting the dentist regularly helps maintain your overall health, as many diseases can have oral symptoms.
What Does Routine Dental Care Include?
Comprehensive Examinations
We’ll perform a complete analysis of your overall oral health. This involves checking for cavities, loose teeth, teeth sensitivity, bleeding gums, and tracking any changes over time, and providing insights for future care.
Teeth Deep Cleaning
This involves a dental hygienist removing hardened plaque buildup and tartar you can’t get with a regular toothbrush. This helps prevent decay and protects against infections by keeping the gum line clean.
X-rays
X-rays find issues hidden below the surface of your teeth and gums. These detailed images help your dentist detect early signs of decay and other problems, often before they are visible to the naked eye. We generally take X-rays once per year.
These steps are core components of a regular dental checkup to help maintain your health. In most cases, glaring issues will be caught and dealt with early.
The Benefits of Routine Dental Care
The benefits of regular dental visits go beyond just keeping your teeth clean and gums healthy. To reiterate, plaque and tooth decay never truly stop – all you can do is stay on top of it to avoid bigger issues. That’s where routine dental care comes in.
Early Detection of Dental Issues
You’ve probably noticed a common theme here. Routine dental care is critical for spotting problems like cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer in the infancy stages. This means easier, less invasive, and less costly treatments down the line.
Prevention of Gum Disease
Gum disease is stealthy. You may not show any symptoms until it’s in an advanced stage. Regular cleanings help to prevent the disease from developing. Consistent care maintains the health of your gums and provides stability.
Maintaining Overall Health
Oral health plays a key role in the overall health of your body. Issues like heart disease and diabetes may be linked to dental health – and dental care can help to avoid these issues.
How Often Should You Receive Routine Dental Care?
We recommend you receive routine dental care at least twice a year. However, if you have specific dental issues, more frequent visits may be necessary. Sticking to a regular dental schedule helps us keep tabs on your oral health to avoid dental emergencies.
Is Routine Dental Care Costly?
The cost of routine dental care can vary – usually depending on your insurance situation. Generally speaking, preventative care is more affordable than the cost of treating severe dental issues that may develop if you neglect regular care.
Many dental insurance plans cover routine visits with little to no costs out of pocket.
How to Maintain Your Dental Health Between Visits
We can only do so much to care for your teeth twice a year. In addition to routine check-ups, a daily dental care routine for good oral hygiene is essential for everyone, this involves:
- Brushing at Least Twice a Day: We recommend Sensodyne fluoride toothpaste.
- Use Dental Floss Daily: Once before bed.
- Eat a Balanced Diet: Do your best to limit sugary snacks and drinks.
- Use Mouthwash: At least once per day, before you go to bed.
No one’s at-home dental routine is perfect – but it’s crucial to maintaining oral health between visits.
Routine Dental Care: An Investment in Your Health
We understand you probably don’t look forward to routine dental visits.
Who likes holding their mouth open while someone shines a light in their face and pokes their gums?
Believe us, we get it.
Think of routine dental care as more than a cost or inconvenience. Think of it as an investment in your health and quality of life. Regular visits help prevent serious diseases, catch issues early, and save you money in the long run.
They ensure that small problems don’t turn into big, expensive ones as you maintain healthy teeth.
Don’t Wait for the Toothache
Waiting until pain sets in to visit your dentist is a risky game.
Routine dental care is a proactive measure in preventing emergencies and maintaining optimal oral health. At The Dental House, our mission with routine dental care is to make the experience as painless as possible – but at the same time, comprehensive. We do everything possible to prevent bigger issues and keep your dental health in great shape.
To make an appointment for routine dental care, schedule a day/time online or call 619-833-0733 to get started!