The Importance of Dental Checkups for Your Health
Dental checkups are very important to keep your mouth healthy. We have the chance to make sure that you have everything in order, that there are no new cavities, and that your gums are not inflamed. This is why we want to see you regularly. Every three, four, or six months are usually the typical times, depending on how regularly you visit the dentist and what your risk is for periodontal disease.
For example, your dental checkups can be done every three, four, or six months. Every three to four months is usually ideal. We know that now because bacteria change in the period of three to four months, and those bacteria can become very bad. We want to make sure that we get rid of those before the process settles after six months.
How can dental checkups prevent oral health issues?
Dental checkups can definitely prevent oral health issues through prevention. We want to make sure that we catch things before they start to become a problem. Usually, if we do that early, the solution is going to be a lot simpler. Within a checkup, we're going to include X-rays. We're going to include your routine X-rays, which we call bite-wings.
Sometimes we extend to other types of X-rays that provide a little more detail. In general, we want to be able to see all your mouth in X-rays, and we want to do an oral exam. That oral exam ensures that your tissues are good, your gums are good, and your teeth are also good.
What do dentists look for during a checkup?
As a dentist, we look for inflammation, deposits of bacteria, new cavities, failing restorations, and open margins in older restorations. Remember that everything in time will fail, and there is normal wear and tear with any dental restoration. So we need to make sure that those are going to last the time that they need to be there.
How long does a dental checkup take?
A dental checkup is usually really quick. If you have been a regular patient, it probably will take about 10 to 15 minutes. If you're doing the cleaning during that same visit and the X-rays, you're probably going to be there for an hour.
Does a dental checkup hurt?
Getting a dental checkup doesn't have to hurt at all. If you are a regular patient and you come for your regular visits, a dental checkup is just going to be a breeze.
We’re proud to serve our community by helping you and your family maintain healthy smiles. Call (229) 508-0551 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit today.