Benefits of Attending Your Regular Dental Appointment

Thousands of people miss their routine dental appointment each year. In many instances patients aren’t aware how important their routine dental appointments are and are under the false impression that they can miss it as they don’t feel there is anything wrong.

Dr Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon, advised that the problem with patients missing their routine dental appointment is that important dental problems can be missed, which would be caught early if they attended their appointments. Most dentists will set up routine requirements for their patients at six or twelve month intervals, depending on their overall dental health.

There are many reasons you shouldn’t skip your appointment. You may feel your teeth are in good condition and you brush and floss regularly so you have nothing to worry about. Unfortunately this isn’t always true.

The main benefit to attending your routine dental appointment is that problems are caught early on. The dentist does a thorough examination and checks your teeth, gums, mouth and face to ensure that there aren’t any problems that need urgent treatment.

As with any oral problem, catching it in the early stages can save you money in the long run. If you have a cavity which is just starting but you aren’t aware of it yet, having it treated sooner rather than later can reduce the risk of having to consider root canal treatment or possibly extraction in the weeks or months to come. 

As with most dental treatments in the UK, having a root canal treatment can cost more than a basic filling on your routine appointment, so you actually save money by making the time and actually going to your appointment at the required time.

The dentist will do a thorough examination of your entire head, mouth, teeth and gums during your routine dental appointment, this may or may not include x-rays to identify potential problems, catching them as early as possible. With recent increases in mouth and oral cancer cases throughout the world, the dentist has become an integral part of catching the disease early and ensuring the patient gets the right treatment as soon as possible.

As with any cancer, being diagnosed early increases life expectancy and increases the chances of the treatment working. Ignoring potential problems when it comes to oral health can only cost you moving forward.

Dr Tariq Drabu also advised that a routine dental appointment isn’t time for the dentist to scold the patient in terms of their oral health, but it does provide an opportunity for the dental professional to ensure the patient is carrying out a good oral health routine at home and educate them on oral health.

 It is also an opportunity for the patient to ask questions and discuss the future of their oral health to promote healthy teeth and gums in the future.

If you have plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, your routine dental appointment may include a visit to the dental hygienist. The dental hygienist will give you a professional clean, removing the hard tartar to ensure that you enjoy a healthy mouth. The build-up of tartar can lead to irritation and gum disease, which is a problem on its own and can lead to tooth loss if ignored.

The final benefit of a routine dental appointment is to provide you with peace of mind. Visiting the dentist and being given the “all clear” ensures that you can continue to your next appointment knowing that you are carrying out a good oral health routine at home that is providing you with the results you need.