Why regular dental checkups are essential.
With so many tasks to take care of annually, it’s often too easy to forget about scheduling family dental appointments. However, skipping these appointments can lead to problems you don’t want to deal with.
Oral health problems like cavities or gum disease don’t happen overnight. These issues have early warning signs that your family dentist can detect during routine checkups.
Check your calendar to see if you have already scheduled your family dental appointments. If not, pick up the phone! These appointments are important to keep your teeth clean and protect them from plaque and tartar buildup. Regular visits with a Middletown dentist can help stop problems before they begin.
The cost of missing your dental checkups.
Missing routine dental appointments can cost you time and money. A checkup and professional cleaning set you up for the best dental health possible. Your dentist will evaluate your teeth and gum tissue, looking for signs of decay, gum disease, and other oral health conditions.
If anything is detected, you can treat it before it worsens and causes pain. Once it advances enough to cause discomfort, it may require more extensive (and expensive) treatment. Sometimes, the tooth is beyond repair, and the dentist cannot save it.
Children and adults must keep up with regular visits. The standard checkup recommendation is every six months, but your general dentist may recommend more frequent visits based on your current oral health and medical conditions.
Common barriers to scheduling regular dental appointments.
Unfortunately, many patients face common barriers that prevent them from visiting a dentist near Springboro. Whether you have financial concerns or a fear of the dentist, these challenges can be overwhelming.
Busy Schedules
It seems everyone’s calendar is packed these days. Whether it’s your child’s piano lesson or your own tee time, there’s always somewhere to go. Finding another minute in your day for appointments can be difficult. It’s easy to forget to call and schedule family dental appointments.
At Steven A. Lang, DDS, we will work with you to find the best time that suits your schedule. We can even book the whole family together, so you only need to make one trip.
Financial Concerns
Cost is always a concern regarding dental care, especially for those without insurance. Most dental offices are happy to contact your insurance company to learn about your benefits. Knowing what to expect can ease the financial burden, making it easier to keep up with appointments.
It’s important to note that routine checkups help prevent oral health problems that require expensive procedures. Whether you have dental insurance or not, routine checkups can help keep money in your pocket.
Fear of Dentists
Dental anxiety is quite common, but many offices offer several options to help ease your fears. For example, you may be able to bring headphones and listen to your favorite music while getting your teeth cleaned. Other offices offer sedation dentistry that will relax you, making your visits easier.
Finding a dental practice in Middletown, Ohio, that you trust and feel comfortable with is crucial to your care. The dental professionals will work to help manage your fears so you can get proper dental care.
Making dental health a family priority.
Everyone likes having a nice, bright smile, but it’s hard to keep it that way if you don’t visit the dentist regularly. Forming good dental habits with your family, including routine checkups, can stop problems with your teeth before they start.
The best way to care for your teeth is to clean them daily between your regular dental appointments. Introduce brushing and flossing to children at an early age and stress the importance of these habits.
Make sure you take everyone in the family to the dentist every six months, and start this practice early on. Eventually, it will become a habit and a regular part of your yearly schedule. To make it more fun, why not do something exciting after the appointments? You could go to the park or grab a healthy treat!
It’s also essential to identify your barriers. If a barrier is anxiety, find out what options your dentist offers. They may have solutions for getting you comfortable in the dental chair, including sedation dentistry.
What happens during a dental checkup?
After checking in with the receptionist, you may be asked to update your health history. Once this is completed, a hygienist will call you back to the treatment room. They’ll do the following:
- Remove plaque and tartar from your tooth surfaces and around your gumline
- Polish your teeth
- Take X-rays if ordered by the dentist
- Report any findings to the dentist
The dentist evaluates your teeth, gums, and other mouth tissues. They also check your neck and throat for abnormalities. If there are X-rays, they review them and recommend any dental work you may need to restore your oral health.
Dental Appointments: Necessary for Optimal Oral Health
Scheduling dental visits for your family is crucial to your oral health and overall well-being. Just like you have a yearly evaluation from your family doctor, you need routine visits with your dental team.
Visit a gentle, compassionate dental office to keep your family on track. Contact Dr. Steven A. Lang, DDS, to book your appointments.