The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups
People need regular dental checkups because when you go without seeing a dentist or hygienist, there are certain areas that accumulate plaque and tartar that you may not be able to reach. Having a dental checkup, having the hygienist take a look at your gums, and having the dentist update x-rays in between your teeth allows us to see if there's anything that has developed so that we can address it before it worsens.
How often should you get a dental checkup?
Usually, for healthy patients with healthy gums, it's normally about every six months.
For those who already have gum disease, sometimes we bring them back sooner, every three months, to maintain their health. When you do a dental checkup, we want to make sure that if anything is going on, we take care of it early to prevent the worsening of dental disease.
At Crownridge Dental, when you come in for your regular checkup, we update your X-rays, specifically bitewings, which look in between your teeth where you cannot see visually. Then we look at your gums, assess their health, and determine what kind of treatment you need. Hopefully, it's just a regular cleaning, but if there's disease, we address it. We stress the importance of identifying any developing disease and taking care of it so that it doesn't get worse. The main goal is to keep you healthy and prevent any worsening of dental issues.
As a dentist, when I do a regular checkup or exam, I look at the x-rays to detect any cavities developing in areas that can't be seen visually. We also look visually; at my office, I have a pen camera that can be used inside your mouth for a more detailed look. We use that pen camera quite often because there's a lot more we can see from different angles. We look for any cracks on the teeth, any chipping, any discoloration, and of course, we ask what is bothering you so that we can focus on your concerns.
Normally, a regular dental checkup takes about 30 minutes. We look at x-rays, examine the inside of your mouth, the hygienist will look at your gums, and I examine your gums as well. Our hope is that you're healthy and we continue to keep you healthy.
Does getting a dental checkup hurt?
Normally, it doesn't. We take x-rays and look inside your mouth. Probably the only thing that might be discomforting is when we do a gum assessment. During this, we look at your gums, measure your gum pockets, and evaluate the health of your gums. Sometimes, that can be discomforting, and depending on your gum health, you may experience a bit more discomfort if you have gum disease. The whole point of getting the checkup is to make sure that all that is taken care of and to get you back to health if needed.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (210) 981-6018 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!