When should I go for a dental Checkup?

The standard recommendation is to visit your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings.

Why are twice a year appointments necessary?

The main reasons are:

• So that your dentist can check for problems that you might not see or feel.
• To allow your dentist to find early signs of decay (decay doesn’t become visible
  or cause pain until it reaches more advanced stages).
• To treat any other oral health problems found (generally, the earlier a problem
  is found, the more manageable it is).

Are there people who need more frequent or less frequent appointments?

Twice yearly appointments work well for most people; however, there are some people who may need to be seen more often. Such people include those who have:

• Gum disease
• Family members with a history of plaque build-up or cavities
• A weakened immune system (the body’s own ability to fight off infections and diseases)
• Experienced certain life events -- particularly those that cause stress or illness. Under these circumstances, changes in the mouth or an infection could occur.

Ask our dentist what visitation schedule works best for your state of dental health.

What happens at the typical checkup appointment?

The typical dental checkup visit usually includes the following oral health care activities:

Professionals who will treat you
Your dentist will conduct an oral exam of your gums and teeth, ask about changes in your overall health or medication use, look for signs of oral cancer and other diseases, diagnose any oral health problems and make treatment recommendations.

The dentist will determine the appropriate x-rays to take, followed by a teeth cleaning and gum evaluation.

Cleaning
— Although home-based tooth brushing and flossing help remove plaque, only a professional cleaning – provided by your dentist – can thoroughly clean your teeth and remove the hardened plaque (called calculus or tartar) that builds up on teeth. Most dentists use a series of metal hand instruments to clean your teeth. Some are using ultrasonic scalers, which provide deep cleaning above and below the gum line.

Polishing
— After your teeth have been cleaned, they are polished to remove plaque and stains on the tooth surface. The polish contains an abrasive substance and fluoride, and is applied using a small rotating rubber cup or brush attached to the dental hand piece.

Prevention
— Your dentist might offer additional instructions for you to follow at home, based on the results of your exam. Don’t hesitate to ask for instructions about brushing or flossing, or general care questions about your teeth and gums.

X-rays
— X-rays may or may not be taken during your checkup. Your dentist will consider your oral exam, dental history, and risk for developing cavities to decide how often you need x-rays.

Treatment recommendations
— If any oral health problems are found during your examination, your dentist will make recommendations for the best next steps. These might include referral to another oral health care specialist, additional diagnostic tests, or advice to return for restoration work (for example, fillings and crowns) or additional oral health care.