The importance of regular dental check-ups.
Whether in your childhood, your teens or fully immersed in adulthood the importance of a dental check-up does not differ. From a young age, as young as 6 months old, the majority of people begin their education on oral hygiene and whilst when your first tooth comes through a simple brush with fluoride toothpaste can be extremely effective, as you grow and your mouth undergoes a series of daily changes, the simple brush may become less effective and need further daily care. This is where visits to the dental practice come in.
Enhancing your own education.
As a child, our education often begins with the simple brush with toothpaste and as we grow this chore can often become less effective as our daily regimes fill up with more exciting things to do. Considering the amount of food and drink consumed on a daily basis combined with the chewing, chatting and knocks that can often occur it is surprising how little care is often taken over the teeth. Therefore checking in with your dental team is the way forward. Not only will the dental team provide you with a comprehensive clean and polish, but they will impart ways to enhance your daily oral hygiene routine at home so as to prevent oral health problems further down the line.
This education can include the encouragement of using an electric toothbrush over a manual one due to brushing too hard in certain areas. Or it may be that the gums appear a little puffy and are prone to bleeding, which in this case the use of floss and/or interdental brushes may be encouraged. No matter what is occurring within the mouth or your daily oral hygiene process your dental practice is there to support and advise so as to provide you with the best possible care.
A deeper understanding of your health.
In some cases during your check-up along with the day-to-day check up of how your general cleaning process is, a more indepth screening will take place along with an evaluation of your physical attributes in both medical and cosmetic terms.
The oral cancer screening which is offered, often in the first dental check-up appointment, allows your dental team to gain a deeper insight into your oral health and address any concerns early on should they arise. Alongside this is the more in depth examination of the overall teeth, mouth and gums which includes an evaluation of the bite and general structure of the jawbone. Should an overbite, underbite or crossbite be present, depending on the severity of the dental problem, a plan may be devised with you, the patient, to address the issue and prevent further dental problems down the line. After all, whilst the dental team can advise and encourage certain dental routes to take when it comes to your dental care, the final decision rests with you. The education and teamwork begins with the dental team and ends with you, the patient.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
