You might not think skipping your regular dental checkup is that important, especially if your teeth generally seem healthy and disease-free. However, if you continue to put off your dental checkups and cleanings, it can lead to substantial plaque and tartar buildup. The consequences can eventually result in far more serious issues.
Reasons Why People Avoid Seeing a Dentist
We realise not everyone finds it easy to see a dentist. Some people feel embarrassed, but they shouldn’t worry as we never judge and are simply here to help you achieve optimal dental health. Dental fears and phobias are very real, but you can trust our kind and caring dental team to take care of you and make sure you feel relaxed in our comfortable dental practice.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Miss That Appointment
The reasons for not missing your dental appointment are compelling.
Plaque and Tartar Buildup
Even if you brush your teeth exceptionally well, some plaque will remain and quickly hardens into tartar or calculus. Calculus makes it easier for more dental plaque to stick to your teeth and is so hard it can only be removed by your dental hygienist using special hand tools.
Gum Disease
The presence of plaque and tartar increases your risk of developing gum disease as the bacteria within these substances produces toxins that infect and inflame your gums. Initially, gum disease is a silent disease, producing few symptoms. Regular dental checkups help detect the early signs of gum disease, called gingivitis, at which stage it is reversible. Prompt treatment is essential as otherwise, gingivitis soon develops into periodontitis or advanced gum disease. This serious condition can result in tooth loss and jawbone loss.
Tooth Decay
Those harmful bacteria in plaque and tartar also increase your risk of tooth decay, producing acids that gradually erode your tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities. When regularly checking your teeth, we can easily detect any tiny lesions. Sometimes it’s possible to re-harden your teeth with applications of topical fluoride. Otherwise, we can fill any tiny holes with tooth coloured composite resin. In comparison, leaving a cavity untreated allows the infection to progress, and you could end up requiring root canal therapy, or even worse, lose that tooth.
Tooth Loss
Teeth are designed to last for life, but only if you care for them properly, including regular preventive professional dental care. When you visit us regularly, we can monitor your dental health closely, soon detecting any signs of oral disease or damage to a tooth that could otherwise result in its loss.
Protecting Your General Health
Perhaps one of the most important reasons for regularly seeing us is to protect your general health, which is closely linked to your oral health. If you have untreated oral disease, especially gum disease, it could affect your overall health. Increasingly, clinical studies link gum disease with diabetes, stroke and heart disease, and certain cancers and dementia.
By taking a proactive approach towards regular professional dental care, you can maintain strong, healthy teeth and gums more easily, protecting your smile and overall health.
