What to Expect During a Dental Checkup and How Often to Schedule One
Hey everybody, Dr. Mike Hardcastle here from Village Dental Care again. Today, I want to answer some common questions I get about dental checkups, what's included, and other questions about what happens during a dental checkup appointment.
Why do you need a regular dental checkup?
The most important thing to know about dental checkups is that we're trying to maintain a healthy mouth. Equally important, if not more so, is that we want to catch problems at the earliest stage possible. A person who goes to the dentist typically wants to keep their teeth forever. We're hopefully going to be around for a while, and the choices we make, how proactive we are, will determine whether or not we keep our teeth for life. Goal number one is if you want to keep your teeth your whole life, you need to have regular dental checkups. This way, we can hopefully prevent problems, identify warning signs of developing issues, or catch other problems that have already happened at the earliest possible stage, because we want to treat them when they are smallest. It's less expensive and keeps the tooth stronger. Whatever we do to your teeth today to fix a problem will make your tooth weaker. The bigger the problem, the weaker the tooth becomes, and you might not be able to save it. We need to see people for regular dental checkups to catch early problems, hopefully prevent them, and keep your teeth as strong as possible for the best chance of keeping them your whole life. Long answer to a simple question, but a really important one.
How often should I get a dental checkup?
In my office at Village Dental Care, North Dallas, we recommend dental checkups twice a year for most people. People with a history of gum disease or extensive problems, at least for a period of time, if not forever, might be recommended to come four times a year. But for most people, twice a year is a good frequency for dental checkups. In my office, we take X-rays during one of those visits each year. The other is just a checkup to look for any new problems that might be popping up.
Can dental checkups prevent oral health issues?
Absolutely. As I mentioned in the answer to a previous question, we want to see you for a regular dental checkup to catch problems early or identify warning signs. If you're not brushing well and leaving sugar on your teeth, we can see marks left behind, called scarring. We can catch it at that stage and help you change your habits and diet, and maybe brush more often. Sometimes we'll notice bleeding gums that weren't bleeding before. Bleeding gums are really acidic, and acid eats teeth, causing more problems if not addressed quickly. The goal is to catch the problem before it's a real problem and help you take corrective action, partnering with you to provide the information you need to apply effectively and hopefully prevent a future problem.
What is included in a dental checkup at Village Dental Care?
Once a year, at a new patient exam, the dental checkup is very comprehensive. We take a full extensive series of X-rays, do a full probing to measure the gums, check for bleeding, signs of decay, bone loss, and any types of soft tissue pathology or abnormalities in the mouth, gums, and soft tissues. It might be a hard bump, a soft bump, or a discoloration—any signs of potential oral cancer. We also feel around the head and neck area to check for lumps in the throat. Visit number one, and then every 3 to 5 years, we'll repeat the same process to stay comprehensive on a regular basis. Aside from that, once you're in routine care, we take fewer X-rays—usually seven once a year—checking for decay, bone levels, and any signs of abnormalities in the bone structure of or around the teeth. We also look for bleeding gums and similar issues. Once a year, you'll come in just for a teeth cleaning. The hygienist will look for anything unusual, continuing to monitor your home care, bleeding gums, and signs of plaque and tartar buildup. The whole process is painless. If your gums are really infected, you might have some tenderness. In those cases, we'll handle you differently to avoid discomfort. Based on the situation, we'll determine the best way to help you, ensuring comfort. Everything else is not painful, but very important.
How long do dental checkups take?
At Village Dental Care, we schedule an hour for them. It typically takes an hour. If we discover extensive treatment needs that require more time, the checkup part still doesn't take more than an hour, but we may have you stick around a bit or come back for consultation. Whatever works better for your schedule, so we have the time we need to go over all the new problems we discovered and figure out the best way to help you remedy those issues.
What is the best way to schedule a dental checkup?
At my office, we have a couple of methods. Probably the most common is people give us a call at (972) 992-5223, or they visit us online at villagedentaldallas.com, where there's a link to schedule an appointment electronically. There are a couple of easy ways to do it. We save spots for new patients and certain types of exams, aiming to get you in within three days, often within a day or two, depending on the situation. So give us a call.