16 August 2023
Why are regular visits to the dentist important?
Shockingly, over 2 million Brits have not visited a dentist in over a decade. Whether you are putting off making an appointment due to a fear of the dentist, being unsure of the costs involved or simply forgetting, you are putting your dental health at huge risk.
At Ibbott&Co Dental Practice, we will carry out a detailed examination of your mouth and then risk assess you (we know its a boring term but its so important when it comes to mouth health) so that we can advise you on how often you need to see the different members of our team, be that dentist, hygienist, oral health educator. Some patients will require appointments every six months, and others will only need to be seen every nine to twelve months. Your dentist will advise you on this once they have assessed your dental health.
Here are some important reasons why you should attend regular dental appointments with your dentist.
Assessing your teeth
The fundamental aim of a dental health assessment is for the dentist to assess the condition of your teeth and gums. A series of specialist tools are used to check your teeth over for any signs of dental decay, excessive wear and movement.
We also use very high magnification glasses with LED lights called loupes so that we can really see everything in the mouth in detail.
We also love to take photos of teeth so that we can show patients any problems and help them to make decisions about what to do next and choose treatment options.
A recording of your teeth will be taken at every appointment, meaning we will have a full record of your dental history. This is useful to monitor how your teeth have altered over time. Taking regular photos also helps to build a picture and see if things are changing.
The great thing about having assessments regularly is that any problems can be detected early and treated before it worsens. This often means treatment is easier, quicker and more often than not, cheaper for you.
Checking for oral cancer
As well as assessing your teeth, your dentist will also carry out observations on the skin in and around the mouth. One of the main reasons for doing so is to check for any warning signs of oral cancer.
1 in 75 men and 1 in 150 women will be diagnosed with oral cancer during their lifetime. The good news is, if caught early, oral cancer has a high survival rate. If you have any concerns about something you have noticed in your mouth, it is important to point it out to your dentist.
Offering advice
Similarly to a hygienist, your dentist is there to offer you advice and guidance on the best way to care for your teeth and gums. They are always happy to answer any questions you have too. Your dentist will be able to recommend and demonstrate the best cleaning technique, best diet and best products to use to ensure your teeth stay healthy and strong.
We know we’re a bit sad but we do get excited about new developments with new cleaning aids. When Oral B came out with the cross-action head we were beside ourselves. Game changer!
If you are in need of dental treatment, we will put together a treatment plan for you. This will detail the cost, timings and procedures. We will also explain any possible complications and make sure you are fully educated and well-informed on the treatment.
We sometimes invite our patients to return for an ‘Options Meeting’. This is a consultation (free of charge) where we deliver a presentation using photographs to help a patient see any problems we have identified, and to outline the options and costs for any treatment. This can be carried out in our comfortable treatment coordination office with Mandy (link to Mandy on team page) over a coffee!
Thorough cleaning
Our hygienists are on hand to help you and support your cleaning efforts at home. Using the latest equipment, they will remove any tartar (hardened bacteria) that has built up over time in difficult to reach areas. This thorough clean will leave your teeth feeling amazing and help to fight off gum disease.
These are just some of the benefits you will gain from attending regular dental check-up appointments but there are many more. To find out the benefits yourself, call us on 01892 782300 to register as a new patient. Our dentists are exceptionally trained and registered with the General Dentist Council (GDC), meaning they will offer you the very best treatment.
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