Do you consider yourself someone with good oral hygiene? You brush and floss daily, trying to keep your mouth clean. Your habits have paid off because your dentist near Lake Hefner hasn’t found tooth decay in years. So you may start wondering whether you need to visit the dentist every six months.

While there is no cookie-cutter approach to answering this question, most dental professionals will say yes. Many oral health problems, like cavities and gum disease, don’t cause tooth pain until they are in the advanced stages. Unfortunately, by this point, the treatment is more extensive and costly.

You can save money by scheduling routine dental visits with your local dentist in OKC. These appointments focus on preventing problems rather than fixing them, and you’ll be glad you called to schedule.

Importance of Regular Dental Checkups

As a child, you’re taught that developing good oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing are necessary. However, nothing can replace routine care when you visit the dentist.

It’s easy to overlook certain spots in your mouth. You may not realize it until it’s too late. At a six-month checkup, your dental team will identify these areas and advise you on improving.

During these appointments, you also get preventive dental care. Typically, this includes a teeth cleaning and an oral examination.

The hygienist will take X-rays so the dentist can see the bone and supporting structure hidden beneath the gum tissues. They’ll conduct an oral examination that helps them find anything unusual. These appointments save you time and money in the long run.

Prevention of Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Brushing and flossing are forms of preventive dentistry that you practice at home. This practice is vital in preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

The sticky film you feel on your teeth is called plaque. It forms naturally daily, but you remove it when you brush and floss. When plaque is allowed to build up over time, it eventually hardens and turns into tartar. It’s more challenging to remove at home. If you don’t visit the dentist to have it removed, it can cause cavities and gum disease.

That’s where professional cleanings come in. Dentists and hygienists have the tools and skills to remove all these particles from your teeth. Thorough cleanings every six months help keep your oral health in peak condition.

Monitoring and Maintaining Dental Restorations

An oral examination isn’t just to find early warning signs of tooth decay or gum disease. These visual inspections are also used to verify that your restorations are intact. A tooth filling or crown may deteriorate with time, but you may not notice it because it isn’t causing you discomfort.

If you have good at-home hygiene habits, you might not have anything to worry about. However, your dentist will carefully check each restoration at every checkup and recommend replacing faulty restorations when needed. Replacing a small filling today can save you from needing a crown later, and that means more money in your pocket.

Detecting Oral Health Problems Early

These routine appointments enable your dentist at Lake Pointe Dental Group to detect dental issues such as tooth decay, bad teeth, or a cracked tooth. If these problems aren’t promptly handled, they could escalate into more severe conditions. In some cases, your only remaining option will be tooth extraction.

Going to the dentist for regular cleanings and exams helps detect early warning signs of conditions like periodontal disease, also called gum disease. Early detection allows the dental team to jump into action and stop the disease from progressing. It prevents you from dealing with the negative impact of tooth and bone loss.

Oral cancer screenings are also a part of routine dental exams. Early intervention for oral cancer gives you a better chance of survival.

Professional Cleaning for Optimal Oral Health

One of the first things you may think of after a professional cleaning is having fresh breath. Your breath may seem cleaner because the hygienist removes bacteria from your mouth that contributes to bad breath.

They’ll also remove surface stains. Coffee, tea, blueberries, and other stain-causing foods can make the surface of your teeth appear darker. With the right instruments, the natural whiteness of your teeth is restored.

You may also get personalized advice. Whether you need guidance on brushing and flossing skills or foods that will strengthen your teeth, your dental team will offer advice tailored to your needs.

Find expert care for your oral health.

Going to the dentist biannually for checkups helps lower your chance of needing emergency tooth pain relief. Dental issues will be detected early, helping reduce the risk of complicated and costly dental procedures. Whether you have a chipped tooth, a loose filling, or just want to schedule a checkup, Lake Pointe Dental Group can help. Contact us today to schedule your appointment. We’ll help you keep your oral health on track.