Routine dental checkups are among the most important aspects of maintaining your oral health. Periodic examinations and teeth cleaning is recommended for patients of all ages and provides protection and benefits in these important areas:
Catching Gum Disease Early
Gum disease is a serious condition caused by bacteria in your mouth. Those bacteria are always present but are managed through oral hygiene and routine dental care.
Early gum disease has only mild symptoms, such as bad breath and bleeding, swollen gums. However, advanced gum disease can cause more serious issues, such as jaw bone and tooth loss. Links have been found between advanced gum disease (periodontitis) and cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, mental health issues, low weight births, and cardiovascular disease. Your routine dental checkups let your dentist identify gum disease early and take action before the disease advances.
Preventing Tooth Decay
When you come in for your dental examination, you’ll also want to have a professional teeth cleaning. This cleaning is a vital part of preventing tooth decay, as it removes plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth.
These deposits are formed by bacteria and over time are often too hard to remove through routine brushing and flossing. These deposits can accelerate tooth decay(as well as gum disease), and only a professional cleaning can help to identify and eliminate these deposits.
Identifying Other Dental Issues
During your dental checkups, your dentist will check for a variety of potential dental issues. For example, they can identify signs of:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Worn, cracked, or chipped teeth
- Infection
- Ill fitting dental restorations
- Poor bite
- Oral Cancer
- Jaw problems
Finding out about those potential issues earlier makes for less invasive and more effective treatment. You could find that options like Invisalign treatment or nightguards can help prevent bite issues and wear, while solutions like dental crowns, bridges, and bonded fillings can be beneficial for those with decay and physical damage.
Protect Your Oral Health with Dental Checkups
You can rely on David W. Piper, DMD, for comprehensive dental checkups in Largo, FL, to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. Call us at (727) 548-7100 to schedule an appointment for your next checkup today.
Dr. Piper is a General and Cosmetic Dentist who has proudly served Pinellas County since 1993. Both he and his team of professionals provide high quality, gentle dental care in a relaxed, personalized, and caring environment. Treating patients like family sets his practice apart from others.
