Visiting the dentist can be quite daunting, and the thought of someone is looking in to your mouth can seem quite invasive. However, it is very important that you do see a dentist regularly, not only to check your teeth and gums, but also to check your oral health.
Your mouth is the gateway for talking, smiling, breathing and eating! Its function is used widely and without good oral health, these benefits can be compromised.
The dentist will check all the teeth are in good condition in terms of decay, colour and erosion. They will assess if they all line up nicely or if some are stuck in awkward positions, which can become a problem. They check how the top teeth meet with the bottom teeth which is very important in smiling and eating. If you have had any work done to your teeth, they check that the restorations are in good condition.
The gums are so important as they are the supporting structures that hold your teeth in place! Without good health of your gums, there is a risk that your teeth can fall out (as scary as that sounds). They are also linked to your overall general health as have a very good blood supply. The dentist will check the gums are healthy and pink, clean and firm, to ensure you don’t get gum disease. Gum disease can be a silent cause of tooth loss, bad breath and moving teeth. There is a strong link with gum disease and diabetes.
The tongue, cheeks and other soft tissues are checked for any abnormalities such as lumps and bumps which should not be there. These can been completely fine but some can lead to more dangerous conditions such as abscesses and signs of oral cancer.
Dentists have experience in finding issues that are very likely to cause a major problem in the future. This will allow problems to be identified earlier and treated in a more simple way. If things are left for too long, they generally become more difficult to treat and can cost more!
With advancing technology being introduced in to dentistry, non-invasive 3D scans can be used to educate you in your own teeth and if treatment is needed, 3D technology has made dentistry much more simple, predictable and painless.
Dentists will usually then give a summary of what they have seen and give solid evidenced based advice in terms of diet and cleaning to ensure your oral health stays in good top condition.
On average, most patients see a dentist every 6 months alongside a dental hygienist visit but if you are deemed to be lower risk, this can be extended to the maximum 2 years. Just remember, if you are not experiencing pain, it doesn’t mean there are no problems in your mouth! As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so it is better to see a dentist regularly to ensure you are looked after.
If you have any more questions, contact one of our team on 0208 6436063 or email at info@cheamvillagedentalstudios.co.uk