Your dentist can evaluate your teeth and check for any problems during a dental checkup. This will enable your dentist to deal with any problems early on or, even better, to prevent them from occurring. The longer you leave problems untreated, the more difficult they will be to fix.

During a dental checkup, your dentist usually asks about your general health, problems with teeth, mouth or gums since your last checkup, examines your mouth, teeth and gums, and advises you regarding your oral health. The dentist will recommend a date for your next visit after your check-up. Checkups are traditionally recommended every six months. However, some individuals are at higher risk for dental problems and may require more frequent dental checkups, whereas others may not require checkups as often.

Dental checkups can prevent plaque, tartar, cavities and tooth decay. No matter how meticulous a person is, they can easily fail to clean the hard-to-reach corners of their mouths. One example would be the back molars, which are notoriously difficult to clean. Therefore, people should visit their dentist regularly. To detect early tooth decay, the dentist examines the patient’s teeth. In the case of small cavities or white spots on teeth, the dentist will start the patient on fluoride treatment to reverse the decay and treat larger cavities with dental fillings. After this, the dentist will perform a professional cleaning of the teeth and gums to remove plaque and tartar. These measures will protect the teeth and gums from bacteria that reside in plaque and tartar.

Checkups can also prevent various diseases or provide early detection of them, including gum disease and oral cancer. Usually, gum disease does not exhibit any symptoms in its early stages. This makes gum disease difficult to detect in the mouth. Fortunately, dentists are trained to spot gum disease even when it’s trying to hide. As part of a routine checkup, the dentist will check the gums for firmness. In addition, they will check for swelling and receding gums. In case of any of these worrying symptoms, the dentist will treat the underlying cause. In most cases, gum disease goes away with improved oral hygiene, and dentists are happy to help their patients learn how to take care of their gums.

In addition to examining the teeth and the gums, a dentist will look for signs of oral cancer in their patient’s mouth. This is great because if oral cancer goes undetected, it can develop into a life-threatening illness. The dentist uses a special light to look for dead tissue caused by tumours. 

During a dental check-up, a patient may also undergo a head and neck exam. A dentist will inspect the lymph nodes, neck, and jaws for swelling, lumps, deformities, and any other symptoms of illness. In the event of a problem, the dentist will refer the patient to an appropriate medical professional.

Some people visit their dentists only when they feel pain or discomfort in their mouth. Tooth pain causes only when there is advanced decay, infection, gum disease or other advanced complications. While it may seem to be a hassle to see your dentist every six months, missing a routine dental checkup may damage your teeth, build-up plaque, cause tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, cavities, oral cancer, abscesses and infections – which can be much more expensive than a routine checkup and you may lose your natural teeth. 
If you get regular checkups, your teeth are more likely to be healthy and strong. They will serve you for as long as you live. Looking for the best dental office in Greater Toronto Area? Dr. Salim Kapadia Dental Centre has been awarded the 2020 Best Dental Office in Scarborough by Scarborough Mirror. We have on-site parking, accessible entrance, free wifi and many more amenities. Click here to book an appointment online.

Published On: 21 August 2021Categories: Hygiene, Tips

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