It is that time of year again and the reminder has come through, you are due for your routine dental appointment. You do not have any problems, surely it won’t matter if you put it off for a couple of months?

Here at Bucklersbury Dental Studio, we have some very good reasons why, even if you don’t have any problems, you should still attend for your routine dental appointment.

How often should I visit a dentist?

It is important that you visit your dentist for regular check-ups, usually every six months. At your routine appointment, the dentist will perform checks, that will aim to identify any issues, before they become problems that are causing you pain or discomfort. This will help to reduce the need for extensive, expensive treatment.

What happens at a dental check-up?

Routine dental appointments are usually quick and straight forward, and are more about preventing issues that you might not know about, before they cause you any pain. Hopefully your dental check-up will be a quick and simple process, where we tell you that your gums and teeth are healthy and we won’t need to see you again for another six months. Routine dental appointments help with:

Evaluating your risk of tooth decay

Tooth decay can be caused by a wide variety of factors. The dentist will assess your risk of cavities and provide advice on preventing tooth decay. The dentist may also take x-rays. X-rays allow the dentist to see if decay is present in areas that are not visible to the naked eye, such as between teeth, under crowns and fillings and in tooth roots. The dentist will also scale and polish your teeth to remove any plaque and calculus build-up, which if left can provide a haven for decay causing bacteria.

Looking for signs of gum disease

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the UK. By attending for routine dental appointments, the dentist will be able to identify the early signs of gum disease and put in place a treatment plan. Gum disease can be effectively treated with improved oral hygiene and regular hygienist appointments.

Mouth Cancer check

Oral cancers are some of the few cancers which are seeing a rise in diagnosis. The dentist will check the tissues both inside and outside your mouth to determine if there are any areas of concern. If they spot anything they will refer you to a specialist. If detected early oral cancers have a very good survival rate.

Oral hygiene advice

The dentist will advise you on the best oral hygiene routine to follow in between appointments to ensure that your teeth remain in tip top condition and will give you advice on lifestyle changes that will improve the health of your teeth. For example, quitting smoking or changing your diet.

To book your routine dental appointment, call Bucklersbury Dental Studio on 01462 437850and book a consultation, one of our friendly team will be happy to help you.