Patients with healthy smiles should visit my dental office every six months for routine checkups and dental cleanings. This is the schedule most dentists advise to help patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health.
However, if you’re prone to tooth decay or have been diagnosed with a condition like gum disease, the question of “how often should you go to the dentist” typically calls for a different answer.
For some patients, I create a custom schedule to address specific needs.
Regular Dental Checkups in Edina, MN
Regular checkups lay the groundwork for healthy teeth and gums. Skipping appointments or failing to schedule them can result in tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections.
You may think that your teeth look fine. You don’t have any noticeable symptoms of decay or gum disease. Unfortunately, issues like cavities and gum disease do not always present with obvious symptoms. When symptoms do arise, your oral health issue may be advanced and require a custom treatment schedule.
About Gum Disease
Gum disease is especially concerning because it can lead to systemic complications involving the heart and lungs. Left untreated, gum disease can cost you your teeth and complicate your reproductive health. Studies even link it to specific types of dementia.
If I catch gum disease in the early gingivitis stage, I can often reverse it. When it advances to periodontitis, it is merely treatable. But treatment can lower your risks for severe health complications.
Preventive Dental Care in Edina, MN
The best way to avoid oral health complications is through routine dental exams in Edina, MN.
These visits include:
- A comprehensive visual exam of the mouth and oral tissues
- A professional teeth cleaning
- Periodic x-rays
- An oral cancer screening
Is It Time for Your Next Checkup and Teeth Cleaning?
To schedule your next exam or to ask questions, call my dental office today. You can also book online.