Importance Of Regular Dental Examinations

In today’s world, a busy lifestyle makes it difficult to maintain daily routines. When it comes to good oral health, its maintenance is often overlooked. This is because most people skip routine dental exams by giving lame excuses like they have a lack of time, dental examinations are costly, and fear of having it. But the reality is that dental check-ups are equally important as routine body check-ups. With regular dental visits, the whole trajectory of a patient’s dental future can change. With this please traverse this article to know in detail the importance of regular dental exams.

If any person is planning to dodge his/her regular dental exam, read further to get an insight into what to expect in a regular dental check-up, and then make your decision with peace of mind.

What Happens During a Routine Dental Exam?

Regular dental exams tend to focus on dental hygiene and prevention. They are necessary to catch any potential dental issue at its early stage. During a regular dental check-up, the patients undergo predictable steps. It is carried out by a dentist along with an experienced dental assistant. If there is dental cleaning involved, a dental hygienist will also be a part of the dental care team.

The appointment begins with a review of the patient’s medical history and health records. It is followed by a discussion regarding the current intake of medications or supplements, any allergies, and information about smoking, drugs, or alcohol consumption. The patients must feel comfortable to tell about any medical conditions they are suffering from and their current treatments as well as any previous dental treatments including surgeries and anesthesia experiences they had in the past.

The next step involves a thorough examination of the patient’s teeth, gums, and mouth by visual inspection and oral X-rays. A dental assistant will take X-rays so that the dentists can closely examine the oral cavity for signs of dental issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer that can’t be seen by the naked eye. If there are any dental crowns or bridges placed in the past, the dentist ensures that they are in good condition and notes if there is a need for any restoration or repair. Once the session of questions and answers is over, then a personalized treatment plan of any dental issues found during the dental exam is developed. 

Professional dental cleaning is a part of many regular dental exams. It involves the removal of dental plaque or tartar from the teeth surface and under the gums.

How often a person must go for a dental exam depends upon several different variables. If there is any existing dental concern, then regular dental check-ups can offer benefits. A fairly normal dental situation with a healthy mouth must be checked after every 6 months. 

Benefits of Regular Dental Check-ups:

Diagnose any dental issues under the internal surface by X-rays: The teeth along with the jawbone can be X-rayed. This allows the detection of any issue under the gum line that is not visible to the naked eye. These include any bone decay, cysts, and tumors, or swelling in the internal surface.

Limit the bad oral habits: This includes brushing too hard, teeth grinding, chewing ice, eating hard and sugar-laced food items, smoking, and drinking coffee or red wine. Regular dental check-ups may help the person see the adverse effects of these habits on oral health and act as a warning to shift to a healthy lifestyle for better oral health.

Avoid gingivitis or periodontitis: The health of the gums can be deteriorated by a build-up of plaque and tartar. There may be some soreness, bleeding, swelling, and gum recession that also disrupts the bone that secures the teeth in place. Regular dental exams can keep the gum infections in check so that they do not progress further and be treated early.

Detection of oral cancer: The abnormalities in the mouth can be best visualized by a dentist during a regular dental check-up. A dentist is well equipped to detect the early signs of oral cancer. Hence, it is important to go for routine dental exams.

Detecting tooth decay and dental cavities: Although the regular discipline of flossing the teeth and brushing twice a day is followed by everyone, there are still areas in the mouth that are hard to reach and keep clean. These mouth areas become a host for the development of dental plaque that further solidifies and turns into tartar. These can only be removed by professional teeth cleaning. A regular dental visit can help avoid the build-up of plaque and tartar, erosion of tooth enamel, and holes created by cavities. The person can become free from the after hassles of undergoing treatment for dental caries or cavities by just avoiding them.

Check-up of the neck, head, and lymph node:  During the routine dental exams, the jawline is also checked that rests the neck and lymph node which also helps check thyroid glands and neck. If there are any abnormalities found, the dentist can alert the person and also take care of the concern well in time.

Consult now with a dental expert to know more about the benefits and importance of regular dental examinations.