Any reliable general and cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles will stress the importance of preventive dentistry. In fact, a good doctor will always encourage you to undergo by-yearly checkups and professional cleanings to help you avoid costly and complicated procedures. But why is preventive dentistry so crucial? In this article, we discuss the importance of regular dental checkups and cleanings.

The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups

We all know that brushing and flossing teeth twice a day is essential for our oral health. However, more is needed, even for people who are very dedicated to their dental hygiene at home. The reason for this is that we all have hard-to-reach areas in the mouth that usually need to be cleaned more thoroughly. The issue is even more significant for people who have misaligned or crooked teeth. Food residue and bacteria linger in those crevices, turning into plaque and tartar over time—the leading causes of cavities and gum disease.

Regular dental checkups can help you maintain good oral health in several ways:

Dental Checkups Prevent Serious Oral and General Health Issues

Small cavities can be painless and often do not signal their arrival. As a result, you might not notice the moment when a simple cavity turns into severe tooth decay. Often, tooth decay needs complicated treatments such as root canal therapy. Also, if tooth decay is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to tooth loss or infect the surrounding teeth. In addition, the infection can spread to the gum tissue and the jawbone and result in periodontal disease, which is difficult and time-consuming to treat.

Furthermore, infections in the mouth are closely associated with illnesses of other organs in the body. For example, gum disease can lead to heart, lung, and joint issues. It also can cause changes in the blood sugar levels. Oral infections can harm the gastrointestinal system and even impede cognitive function. 

If you visit a dental office every six months, your doctor will be able to spot any small cavities or other potential issues and offer you a plan of treatment right away. Treating a cavity with a dental filling is also quicker and cheaper than treating severe tooth decay. What is more, having a healthy mouth at all times will help boost the health of your whole body, your energy levels, and your quality of life.

Dental Checkups Can Include Professional Dental Cleanings

Dental checkups are often combined with professional cleanings that are necessary to maintain the perfect condition of your teeth. Your dentist uses professional instruments to effectively remove plaque and tartar (which can not be removed with a toothbrush at home) from all areas of the mouth, even those that are hard to reach. Thus, professional cleanings prevent cavities, decay, and gum disease. In addition, by undergoing cleanings every six months, you can prevent plaque on your teeth from hardening and turning to tartar.

You can also opt for a fluoride treatment as a part of your dental cleaning. Fluoride effectively remineralizes the teeth, strengthens the enamel, and makes your teeth move resistant to harmful bacteria, further preventing cavities.

Also, by regularly cleaning your teeth at a dental office, you can boost the effectiveness of fluoride toothpaste you use at home since there will not be a film on your teeth that prevents the ingredient from penetrating the enamel.

Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings Save Money in the Long Run

Treating teeth with severe issues can be expensive. For example, the cost of a root canal treatment is approximately 1500 to 2000 dollars without insurance. The price of replacing a decayed tooth with a dental implant can be as much as 5000 dollars. Gum disease treatments can include multiple costly procedures and end up costing a small fortune.

In addition, in many cases, dental insurance only covers part of the price of major procedures, typically only 50 percent. On the other hand, most dental insurance policies cover the total price of preventive procedures, such as checkups and cleaning. Even if you pay for these procedures out of pocket, they will be much cheaper than any complicated, multi-step treatments.

Make an Appointment Today

At Samaritan Dental, we provide student discounts for dental care. Do not hesitate to call our office and make an appointment for a dental checkup and a professional cleaning today. We look forward to welcoming you to our dental office.