While your dentist can provide treatments and procedures when you have a cavity or infection, they are also there to help you avoid having these treatments in the first place. The importance of seeing your dentist regularly comes down to proper oral health and avoiding decay of your teeth and gums. Here are some benefits to getting preventative care from your dentist.
Prevent Tooth Decay
The first way you get preventative care from your dentist is by preventing tooth decay. This is done through the professional cleanings you get on a routine basis. These cleanings are essential to removing any plaque that is currently present on your teeth and below the gumline. Even if you brush and floss daily, you still need to have your teeth cleaned on a regular basis. By preventing decay, you will also be preventing cavities from forming, which helps keep your teeth nice and strong.
You Can Keep Gum Disease at Bay
Another way that cleanings and exams help you accomplish is keeping away gum disease. Gum disease, also called gingivitis, comes in many forms. There is mild gum disease that often starts with gums that bleed while brushing them, and red or swollen gums. If you don't get it treated promptly, it can gradually worsen and become a severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. This may cause the gums to separate from the teeth, deterioration of the bone, and loose teeth that might also fall out. Just by seeing your dentist regularly, you can help treat the early warning signs of gum disease and prevent it from worsening.
You Don't Need as Many Procedures
If you're lucky, you won't need much more than the occasional filling for a cavity if you get preventative care. Routine visits to your dentist help you get cleanings and x-rays so that you remove plaque that could have otherwise caused an infection that required an extraction or root canal, or you know when to get a restoration for a cracked tooth so you don't lose it entirely.
Save Money on Dental Work
Not only are these procedures and treatments no fun to go through, but they can be expensive as well. Even if you have dental insurance, it likely has a limit and many procedures end up going over that limit. It may cover your root canal, but what about the crown you need after having it performed? This may need to be paid by you, which isn't a cheap restoration. By getting preventative care from your dentist, you can hopefully save money by not needing as many of the higher priced procedures. Contact an emergency dentist if you have a concern that can't wait.
Share21 March 2016
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