How Often Should You See the Family Dentist

How Often Should You See the Family Dentist from Dental Studio Colleyville in Colleyville, TXAccording to the American Dental Association, little more than half of Americans visit a family dentist twice yearly, which is the frequency with which the ADA recommends checkups. This means that an overwhelming percentage — more than 40% — only schedule a visit when something is wrong. Individuals who fall into the latter category may actually end up spending more money on dental care than if they were to maintain biannual appointments visits. Moreover, failing to see a family dentist regularly can lead to significant dental issues and, eventually, tooth loss.

The importance of regular checkups with a family dentist

Though the recommended frequency of visits with a family dentist will vary from person to person, the ADA suggests that everyone should make at least one to two visits a year. A good rule of thumb individuals should live by, however, is to schedule a cleaning every six months.

Many people wonder why it is necessary to schedule dental appointments twice a year, or at all, if the teeth are in otherwise good shape. The answer to this is two-fold.

For one, regular dental visits give patients an opportunity to undergo much more thorough cleanings than what can be achieved at home. While brushing, flossing, and rinsing twice daily can help prevent the buildup of bacteria on the teeth and gums, these practices cannot clean well between the teeth or beneath the gumline. With professional tools, however, a dental hygienist or dentist can remove the buildup of plaque or tartar in hard to reach places and therefore reduce a patient’s risk of developing cavities, gum disease, bad breath, or other dental problems.

Two, a thorough dental exam can reveal small issues before they become bigger and costlier ones. If caught early on, minor issues, such as dental caries, can be reversed or treated before causing major problems.

Other times to visit a family dentist

Some individuals may require more frequent visits to a family dentist than others or need to schedule a visit that falls outside of the typical six-month schedule. Instances that may require a visit sooner rather than later include the following:

  • When a patient experiences severe, lingering tooth or gum pain
  • When a patient experiences sudden and/or extreme tooth or gum sensitivity
  • When a patient experiences trauma to the mouth, such as after a sports injury or car accident
  • When a tooth becomes cracked, chipped, loose, or broken
  • When a person develops a cavity
  • When an existing restoration or prosthetic becomes loose or falls out
  • When a person develops visible symptoms of decay or damage, such as white patches in the mouth or dark spots on the teeth

In these instances, it is always best that a person seeks immediate attention from a dental professional, even if the issue turns out to be nothing major.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp:
Family Dentist in Colleyville, TX

Conclusion

The job of a family dentist is to maintain patients’ overall oral health and prevent as many dental issues as possible. The best way these professionals can accomplish their jobs is by seeing each patient on an annual or biannual basis.

Request an appointment or call Dental Studio Colleyville at 817-885-5188 for an appointment in our Colleyville office.

Recent Posts

The Importance Of Regular Check-ups With A Family Dentist For Every Age

No matter your stage in life, maintaining a healthy smile is important. Regular visits to a family dentist provide comprehensive care for people of all ages, ensuring a lifetime of healthy smiles. These routine check-ups address immediate concerns, can prevent future dental issues, and provide you and your family with the information you need to…

The Long-Term Benefits Of Seeing A Family Dentist

Establishing a relationship with a family dentist offers numerous long-term benefits for maintaining oral health. By providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages, a family dentist ensures continuity of treatment, early detection of potential problems, and education that fosters a lifetime of healthy habits. Investing in regular visits to a family dentis is an…

How A Family Dentist Can Treat Tooth Decay

One of the many things that a family dentist does is detect and treat tooth decay. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 90% of adults in the United States have had a cavity at some point in time. Even though this issue is quite common, it does not mean that…

Recent Posts

Preventative Dental Care For Dental Enamel Health

Preventative Dental Care For Dental Enamel Health

Tooth enamel protects your teeth from harmful pressure, which means ensuring it is in great shape should be a routine in your preventative dental care. If not properly taken care of, the enamel can erode and make your teeth more susceptible to things like breaking, cracking, or chipping. Ultimately, this can be very painful and…

Preventative Dental Care To Prevent Tooth Decay

Preventative Dental Care To Prevent Tooth Decay

The most effective way to prevent tooth decay is with preventative dental care. Everyone wants to maintain a healthy white smile for a lifetime. Your smile is your first impression and a great way to show confidence. Keeping that smile can be very easy if you follow a few easy steps.Tooth decay causes gum disease,…