As soon as we begin growing our first baby teeth, we start attending regular visits to our dentist’s office. These appointments ensure our mouths stay healthy, and we must continue these check-ups into adulthood. But when we grow up, we may wonder if these routine exams and cleanings are really necessary for our oral health.

The answer is yes. A dentist provides crucial preventative dental care at your routine dental check-ups. Without this dental attention, your smile could become vulnerable to serious oral health concerns that could leave you with irreversible damage.

You can feel more inclined to attend these appointments when you know more about them. Discover the importance of regular dental services as well as how frequently you should seek this care from your dentist for optimal oral health.

What Happens at a Routine Dental Check-Up?

When you attend your routine dental appointment, the dentist begins by thoroughly cleaning your teeth to a professional level. You complete oral hygiene at home to maintain good oral health. But a toothbrush and floss cannot reach all areas of the mouth.

Therefore, you may have plaque and other build-up clinging to your teeth and eating away at your dental structure. This can weaken the teeth and make them more vulnerable to tooth decay and other dental concerns.

So you should attend these appointments to get rid of harmful residues on your teeth and reduce your risk of dental problems. Your dentist will also perform an oral exam of your smile during this appointment. They check your teeth and gums for signs of infections and other issues.

If they do notice any problems, the dentist can then offer swift treatment to get rid of them before you see lasting damage to your smile. Skipping these services can put you in danger of serious oral health deterioration.

How Often Should I Schedule Dentist Appointments?

You should schedule these routine dental check-ups every six months on average. This establishes the ideal window where a dentist can clean your teeth before build-up deteriorates your dental health. And the dentist can diagnose oral health issues before they seriously hurt your smile.

Some dental patients might need to see their dentist more often, however. For example, senior-aged patients, people with certain health conditions, and those with a higher risk of forming tartar might need to visit their dentist three or four times a year. Consult with your dentist to find the right preventative dental treatment plan for your unique smile.

What Do I Do During a Dental Emergency?

Even if you practice diligent preventative dentistry, accidents can happen that may impact your dental health. If you suffer a dental emergency before your next regularly scheduled dental check-up, do not wait until that appointment to talk to your dentist.

Contact your dentist’s office right away if you notice changes or problems with your oral health. They may invite you to attend an emergency dental evaluation at their office. Delaying this dental care could put your oral health at serious risk.