Regular dental checksFew people could honestly say they like going to the dentist. In fact, most of us view impending visits with trepidation, or even fear. So, you may be surprised to learn that there is an easy way to make visits to the dentists not only less traumatic, but also less expensive. How? You simply have to go more often.

Regular dental checkups really can take the pain out of visiting the dentist, as an early diagnosis will almost certainly mean easier, less radical and cheaper treatment. Miss your regular dental checkup and you could find that instead of a small, simple-to-fill cavity today, you will be facing  painful and expensive root canal treatment or a lost tooth and costly bridging work tomorrow.

Ideally, you should visit your dentist every six months for a checkup. This will give your dentist the best chance to spot dental problems early, and help you to maintain healthy teeth and gums. You should certainly not leave it more than a year between visits. During the checkup, your dentist will examine your gums for signs of disease and carefully examine your teeth for cavities, broken fillings or other problems. If further investigation is needed, you may also have an x-ray taken.

Many dental checkups include oral cancer screening. Your dentist will look for abnormalities in the soft tissues of your mouth for signs of oral cancer. As with all cancers, early diagnosis increases the chance of successful treatment.

Often, the dentist will clean your teeth during your checkup – or refer you to a dental hygienist for a clean. This is very important as, no matter how well we brush our teeth, we cannot avoid some build up of hardened plaque. Hardened plaque is impossible to remove through normal brushing, so must be removed by a dentist or hygienist every six to twelve months. If left, the bacteria in the plaque can cause infection, disease and tooth decay.

It is vital that children have regular dental checks. In addition to monitoring tooth and gum health and dental hygiene, your dentist will be able to spot developmental problems such as crowded, missing or crooked teeth, or jaw deformities. The earlier such problems are diagnosed, the easier the treatment will be.

Your child will also need a topical application of fluoride every six months. Fluoride is a mineral that protects against tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars. The extra protection of topical fluoride is important even if you live in an area where water is flouridated. Your dentist will also apply fissure sealants to your child’s molar teeth as soon as they appear in order to create a protective layer to guard against food particles and germs causing decay.

With so many good reasons to have a dental checkup, there really is no reason to delay – but, just to give you one more good reason, Medcare’s dental surgery in Benijofar offers a free initial checkup.