Besides going to a dentist when you have particular dental problems, it is also recommended that you go for regular exams. A dental exam can be an important part of your dental health because it enables the dentist to be proactive in caring for your teeth, as well as catching problems before they become costly to repair.

Why Dental Visits Are Important

People usually cannot tell how well they are taking care of their own teeth. It can be easy to miss spots when brushing or flossing, but the dentist or dental hygienist can easily see them as they look over your mouth. They will also inform you as to how you are doing so that you can do a better job after your visit.

Detecting Problems Early

Each dental exam enables a dentist to spot problems before they become costly. A simple cavity only requires a filling at the start, but if untreated, you may end up needing a root canal and a crown. In a worst-case scenario, the tooth may need to be extracted, and you will need a dental implant with a crown to repair it.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is very prevalent in America. Being treated for it early is important. The dentist can identify it and provide you with some tips about what you need to do to remove it. If you have periodontitis, you may need the dentist to provide you with treatments and medications. These will vary depending on the stage of gum disease that you have at the time.

Oral Cancer Screenings

As many as 50,000 people will be identified as having oral cancer this year. In many of those cases, it was the dentist who first spotted the problem. They are trained to be able to recognize it, and they can also provide initial biopsies for it. Oral cancers often spread fast and early treatment is important for survival.

A dentist may not always provide an oral cancer screening with a checkup, but many do. Others will conduct it if you ask them to. It is especially important if you smoke and have other risk factors. During an oral cancer screening, the dentist will feel your neck for swollen lymph nodes and other lumps, which is often the first indication of oral cancer.

About Dental Insurance

Many dental insurance plans will provide free, or nearly free, visits to the dentist. This is because the emphasis on all dental health plans is that of prevention, rather than on correcting problems that develop. This is why the maximum amount is only about $1,500 when several dental treatments could easily cost that much or more. The insurance company would rather help you catch the problem as it starts to develop when the cost is still very low.

Call us for your dental appointment (914) 732-3377.