The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups

No one likes going to the dentist. However, regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral and dental hygiene and health. Regular checkups can also help you save money over the long term, since small problems are more easily and cheaply taken care of if caught early. Additionally, regular dental checkups can even save your life.

First of all, by going for regular dental checkups, you are better able to maintain and care for your teeth and gums. This is because a dentist will examine your teeth and find out if they require cleaning, cavity filling, and/or other preventative or corrective measures. Crooked teeth can be examined, and any issues, such as halitosis, can be addressed.

By performing such routine examinations, many larger future dental problems are prevented. For example, by having a dental cleaning, your teeth not only look and feel better, but are less likely to cause gum recession and/or inflammation down the line. Also, by having a small tooth cavity filled today, you potentially prevent tooth loss or a painful root canal in the future.

Having small procedures such as cleanings and fillings performed today also saves you money. A simple cleaning is inexpensive and may even be free under some dental insurance plans. However, treatment for inflamed and/or receding gums is both costly and time consuming. Likewise, a cavity filling may cost a little bit of money or small insurance co-pay. However, if your inattention to your small cavity leads to eventual tooth loss, then the money required for a dental bridge or dental implant will be significantly more. Even if only root canal therapy is needed, the cost of such a treatment can be as much as ten times the cost of a simple cavity filling.

Finally, regular dental checkups do more than preserve your smile- they can also save your life. Each year, around 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed worldwide (1). While oral cancer is curable when found and treated in its early stages, the disease symptoms often go unnoticed. Small bumps, spots, or ulcers on the inside of your cheeks, lips, or throat are a common indicator of early oral cancer. However, because these manifestations are often painless and hidden away, you may not even know you have a problem. A dentist will check for these early warning symptoms and alert you should any sign of cancer be found.

You should schedule regular dental checkups once every six months. Additional checkups may be required if you are having treatment for cavities or other oral and/or dental issues. In summary, if you want to preserve healthy teeth and gums, as well as a healthy mouth, regular dental checkups are absolutely necessary.

Reference:

1. Oral Cancer - An Overview of Oral Cancer, by Tammy Davenport, About.com