Now that it is February, and your new dental insurance is in full effect, let’s maximize your time at the dentist this year and spend more time on preventative measures.
You know what they say about prevention… it’s worth a pound of cure. We thinks it’s less expensive in the long run, as well!
We recommend two dental exams per year for each member of your family. A dental exam is more than just a cleaning.
What Should You Expect?
In every dental exam, we are checking for three different things:
- Periodontal disease – or gum disease, damages the soft tissue and destroys the bones that hold the teeth in place. Your hygienist will perform x-rays and check the depth of your gums at several points around your mouth.
- Oral cancer – According to OralCancerFoundation.org, There are several types of oral cancers, but around 90% are squamous cell carcinomas.
- Decay – if decay is found before it hits the nerve of the tooth, a simple filling procedure will take care of the problem.
Early detection is the key in all of this!
February is National Pediatric Dental Health Month
In honor of National Pediatric Dental Health Month, we see families of all kinds at our office and the burning question new parents often ask is, “When should I schedule my babies first dental appointment?”
Many pediatric dentists want to see children as soon as their teeth start coming in. We are a family dental practice and we tend to see children for their first cleaning at around three years of age – if they will sit still and let us clean their teeth 😉
But, we are always screening for teeth crowding and bite issues that will affect your child’s need for braces as an adolescent. So, it is important to schedule regular appointments that ensure you are preventing oral issues.
Come See Us!
If it has been a while since your last exam, or you’ve been putting off scheduling an appointment, we would love to meet with you! Call us for a free consultation today! We will be gentle!
~Dr. Marea White