Dental Check-ups in Bedford, Texas

Routine dental exams are recommended every six months at your family dentist in Bedford, TX, for patients of all ages unless you have a specific condition that requires more frequent visits. Keeping up with those regular dental cleanings and exams is vital to your health and confers benefits in all these areas.

1. Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental issues and can lead to infection and tooth loss over time. Regular visits let your dentist identify cavities and other issues while they can still be treated relatively simply.

The regular dental cleanings you receive during routine visits also prevent tooth decay. Your dentist removes plaque and tartar deposits that accelerate tooth decay and are too hard to remove during regular brushing.

2. Watching Out for Gum Disease

Gum disease advances through several stages, so it’s best to catch it early. The earliest stage is gingivitis, and your dentist can identify it during your routine exams. Mild symptoms such as swollen gums and bad breath can indicate gingivitis.

When caught early, gingivitis can be reversed through improved oral hygiene or straightforward treatments. However, if gum disease advances to periodontitis, you could find yourself with more serious symptoms — even tooth loss.

3. Maintaining Your Whole-Body Health

The care you receive from your family dentist isn’t just about oral health. It also impacts your whole-body health, with various conditions linked to tooth and gum health.

Infection and inflammation can spread from the mouth throughout the body. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions have been linked to oral health. Keeping up with routine visits helps reduce those risks.

4. Detecting Oral Cancer

Oral cancers account for roughly three percent of all cancer diagnoses each year in the United States. As with other types of cancer, early detection is the best way to increase treatment effectiveness.

During your routine exam, your dentist looks for key signs of oral cancer. Identifying these signs and initiating further testing for early detection can greatly improve treatment outcomes.

5. Taking Advantage of Preventive Dentistry

When you come in for your routine dental exam, you can also take advantage of other preventive dentistry treatments. This includes professional dental cleanings that are almost always done at the same time as your exam.

You can also take advantage of fluoride treatment. A quick treatment with fluoride gel provides lasting cavity protection and remineralizes enamel in the early stages of tooth decay. Dental sealants are another option that can seal the chewing surface of the molars, providing several years of advanced cavity protection.

6. Staying on Top of Teeth Grinding

You could be grinding your teeth without even realizing it. If you grind your teeth during sleep, the surface of your teeth will wear away and become more sensitive and susceptible to tooth decay.

Your dentist can quickly identify teeth grinding during a routine exam. They can then evaluate the root cause and provide treatment options, including custom mouthguards, to prevent further grinding.

7. Identifying TMJ Issues

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint on either side of your head that lets your lower jaw move freely. You can discuss any pain or soreness you’ve been having during your visit, and your dentist will evaluate your TMJ for any issues.

This can also play a factor in sleep apnea. You can speak with your dentist about any trouble you’ve been having sleeping or other symptoms that could be linked to sleep apnea and TMJ disorders.

8. Prioritizing Long-Term Oral Health

Tooth loss is a common issue that becomes more prevalent with age. By keeping up with visits for you and your family now, you help provide a better foundation for you and your children. Identifying issues early and having preventive treatments makes you more likely to retain natural teeth into old age.

9. Maintaining a Bright Smile

Your routine dental cleaning helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and it also leaves your smile looking great. Removal of plaque and subsequent polishing can diminish surface stains and provide a whiter smile. Of course, professional whitening options are also available for a more pronounced effect.

10. Saving Time and Money

Acting today to prevent dental issues saves you time and money compared to treating them later. A simple filling today could require an extraction and bridge or dental implant if left untreated. Save time and money by being proactive with your oral health.

Schedule your next visit today.

If it’s been six months since your last visit, or if you’ve gone even longer without care, you should schedule your next routine visit with Davis Family Dental Care today. We’re your family dentist in Bedford, TX, and we provide the regular dental cleanings, exams, and other preventive dentistry you need. Book your appointment today.