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New Smiles Welcome | 5925 Grossbeak Drive, Mississauga | 905.785.1412
How Often Should I Go To The Dentist? | Mississauga
Dental care today focuses on preventative care through regular checkups. Going to the dentist is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. So, how often should you visit the dentist?
In the spirit of prevention, most dentists now recommend a check-up every 6 months for the average, healthy individual. Some higher risk patients may need to be seen as often as every 3 to 4 months.
Regular checkups are the best way to maintain your oral health. They allow dentists to catch issues early on before they become bigger problems that require more invasive, and costly treatment. At Britannia Dental Care, a dental checkup consists of a thorough cleaning of your teeth by our gentle hygienists, and an examination by our experienced dentists. Every so often, the check-up will also include x-rays to check surfaces of your teeth and jaw that aren’t visible with the eyes. Team Britannia may also use our DEXIS CariVu, or iTero digital scanner’s NIRI technology to detect cavities early.
Our iTero Element 5D uses near infrared imaging technology (NIRI) to detect early signs of caries that may not be visible to the naked eye.
What makes me a high risk patient? Why do I need to visit the dentist every 3-4 months?
Your dental team may recommend more frequent visits for you if you fall into one of the categories below:
Patients with a History of Cavities
People can be more prone to cavities due to multiple factors such as environmental, genetic and dietary. For them, at-home oral hygiene is not enough, and they require professional dental cleanings to remove build-ups of plaque and tartar before cavities rapidly develop. Our team utilizes their skills, and our innovative technology and devices as aids to detect any cavities early. If you have a personal or family history of cavities, consider visiting the dentist more frequently.
Pregnant Women
Pregnancy changes the hormones in the body and can put women at increased risk for gum disease. Additionally, changes such as morning sickness and frequent cravings can lead to weakened tooth structure, and cavities. It’s important to visit your dentist to ensure your mouth is healthy as infections in the mouth can be harmful to you and your baby.
Smokers
Aside from causing bad breath and tooth stains, smoking can also cause gum disease and cancer of the tongue, throat, and soft tissues in the mouth. Dentists and hygienists are the only skilled professionals who regularly check your oral cavity for such serious diseases. Early intervention can not only save your smile, but also your life.
Immune Compromised Patients
Oral health plays a vital role in overall health of the body. People with a compromised immune system, such as those with an autoimmune disease, cancer or diabetes, may require more frequent visits to the dentist. What might be a minor issue for a healthy patient, can be life-threatening for an immune compromised patient.
Patients with Gum Disease
Gum disease may seem a minor nuisance in it’s beginning stages, but it can quickly progress to something more serious. Aside from bleeding, bad breath, swelling, and discomfort, gum disease can damage your teeth. If left untreated, it can result in early tooth loss. At Britannia Dental Care, we offer various treatment options for gum disease, and recommend regular cleanings 3-4 times a year.
What Are The Benefits of Routine Dental Visits?
At Britannia Dental Care, we believe prevention is better than cure. When dental cleanings and checkups are performed at the recommended time interval, we can reduce:
Your risk of cavities: Professional dental cleanings remove any built-up plaque and tartar which are the cause of cavities.
The occurrence of bad breath: Keeping your mouth fresh by regular at-home oral hygiene, and thorough dental cleanings can prevent bad breath.
Your risk of gum disease: Accumulated plaque and tartar can also damage the gums. According to Canadian Dental Association, “48% of Canadians who haven’t seen a dentist in the past year have gum disease.”
The need for more invasive treatment: If dental problems are undetected, and untreated, they progressively require more invasive treatment. For instance, if a cavity that can be treated with a filling, is left undetected, it can progress into a root canal infection, requiring root canal treatment and a dental crown.
Your overall dental expenses: Cavities and gum disease require procedures such as fillings and periodontal care. Early tooth loss due to gum disease will require tooth replacement procedures such as dental bridges and implants. By attending routinely, you can prevent the need for these procedures.
Time for Your Routine Dental Check-Up?
If it’s time for you to see a dentist, get in touch with us at Britannia Dental Care today! Our dental team in Mississauga has your best interest in mind, and is dedicated to ensuring you have a healthy smile that will last a lifetime. Click here to schedule an appointment, or call: 905-785-1412, email: reception@britanniadentalcare.com. We look forward to seeing you!
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