Have you heard of preventive dental care? The emphasis is on the word preventive. Keeping your regular dental appointments can prevent dental issues from developing. This is true for all ages. When you see your dentist on a regular basis, he or she can keep an eye on your oral health. Any issues that may be on the horizon can be identified and addressed in their earliest stages. Except for trauma that can occur in an accident of some kind, most dental problems can be halted before they have an opportunity to fully develop.
Stop Dental Decay in Its Tracks
One of the most prevalent issues affecting oral health is dental decay. The process doesn’t occur overnight. In fact, dental decay takes a while to fully develop. It starts on the surface of a tooth. Decay begins to eat away at the enamel of the tooth. It takes some time for this outer layer of the tooth to be breached.
Children’s teeth have deep grooves and fissures that can readily trap food debris and bacteria leading to tooth decay. Sealants can be applied to the surface of the teeth protecting them from the buildup of bacteria that eat away at enamel. Regular dental appointments ensure that the sealants are doing the job.
A thorough examination of adult teeth can reveal any areas which may be problematic. Identifying these areas early in the process is critical. Cleaning out the decay and filling the cavity before it has an opportunity to get worse can save you the pain, time, and expense of dealing with an infected tooth and root canal therapy or extraction.
Regular Dental Appointments for Clean Healthy Teeth
As adults get older, cavities take second place to periodontal disease as the number one reason for tooth loss. Regular dental appointments can keep this silent disease in check. Plaque buildup is eliminated with thorough professional cleaning. If any gingivitis is present, it can be addressed properly. Ignoring it can lead to tooth loss as gums recede and bone loss ensues.
Cavities and periodontal disease not only affect your oral health, they can also impact your overall health. This is especially true if infection should get into the blood stream. Your self-confidence also may be impacted as your smile deteriorates due to decayed or missing teeth. Regular dental appointments can prevent these things from happening. Additionally, taking care of your oral health before problems develop will also save you time and money.
Keep your mouth healthy and your teeth sparkling with regular dental appointments at Mission Bend. Contact us today to schedule your next dental appointment.