The 6-Month Rule: Why Regular Dental Checkups Matter More Than You Think

When you’re busy, six months can go by in a flash, and it might not feel like you need to visit the dentist. However, keeping up with routine dental care with regular exams and professional cleanings, according to your personally recommended schedule, is important for your oral health and your overall well-being. 

Why Routine Dental Exams Are So Important

Routine dental checkups provide patients with several benefits and advantages, helping to promote better oral and overall health. 

Prevent Oral Health Problems

While taking care of your teeth with at-home oral hygiene is vital to oral health, visiting the dentist for professional prophylaxis (preventive) dental cleanings is too. Despite our best efforts at home, our teeth still accumulate plaque and tartar, which harden into a substance called calculus. During routine dental visits, we scale and polish your teeth, removing calculus, which helps to prevent problems like tooth decay, cavities, and periodontal disease (gum disease). 

Early Detection and Treatment

Regular exams ensure the early detection and prompt treatment of any oral health issues that do arise. The longer an oral health problem, like tooth decay or gum disease, goes untreated, the more severe the symptoms and damage will be. 

For example, tooth decay (the earliest stage of dental cavities) can be prevented with professional fluoride applications and lifestyle adjustments, and the earliest stage of gum disease (gingivitis) can also be reversed with proper changes and treatments. Once either of these has progressed to the next stage (a dental cavity or periodontitis), the issues become irreversible and can only be managed with restorative treatment (for a cavity) or ongoing treatments and management for gum disease. 

Oral Cancer Screening

While guidelines for other types of cancer screening (such as colon, cervical, and breast cancer screenings) exist, there are no official recommendations regarding oral cancer. So, for most patients, dental visits are the only time when they will be screened for signs of oral cancer. As is the case with all types of cancer, early detection of oral cancer vastly improves treatment outcomes. 

Improved General Health

Oral health and overall health are closely linked, as poor oral health can contribute to a whole host of systemic health problems that impact the entire body. For example, periodontal disease is closely linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, reproductive health problems, frequent respiratory infections, and several types of cancer. 

Maintaining good oral health with regular dental checkups and preventive care can also help to promote overall wellness and a better quality of life. 

Prevention Costs Less Than Treatment

The cost of routine dental checkups is an investment in your oral health, general health, and financial health. Preventive care is almost always much less expensive than the cost of more extensive treatments that could be needed if oral health problems are allowed to develop and worsen. 

Avoid Unpleasant Symptoms

Routine dental checkups mean that most oral health problems are detected before they even begin causing painful, unpleasant symptoms for patients. 

What Does a Routine Dental Checkup Include?

• Consultation – Every dental visit begins with a patient consultation where we discuss any oral health changes, medication changes, new medical history, and any other concerns the patient might have.
• Prophylaxis Cleaning – An experienced dental hygienist then performs a thorough cleaning of the patient’s teeth, using special dental tools to scale away calculus and polish the surfaces of the teeth to lift stubborn buildup and surface-level stains. 
• Examination – Our dentist then carefully examines the patient’s teeth, gums, and oral anatomy, looking for signs of any potential concerns, such as soft spots, dark spots, irregular wear and tear, gum inflammation, gum recession, or other symptoms. 
• Oral Cancer Screening – During the exam, we also screen the patient for early signs of oral cancer, such as sores, spots, lumps, bumps, or other abnormalities. 
• Digital Dental X-Rays – While not necessary at every checkup, we may also recommend a set of digital dental x-rays that allow us to screen for and detect oral health concerns that are not visible to the naked eye. 
• Patient Education and Discussion – We then discuss any findings and treatment recommendations with our patient. Additionally, we provide personalized patient education for improved oral hygiene techniques and tools. 

Comprehensive Preventive Dental Care and Routine Checkups in Port Saint Lucie

While many oral health problems can be successfully addressed and prevented with prompt detection, diagnosis, and treatment, prevention is always best. That’s why, at Great Smile Dental, we place a strong emphasis on preventive dental care through routine exams, prophylaxis cleanings, and good oral hygiene practiced at home between appointments. 

To make a reservation for your next preventive dental care appointment or if you have any questions about dental checkups, we welcome you to contact us.