Dental News

Ask a Dentist: Is it Really Necessary to Get a Cleaning and Exam Twice a Year?

April 4, 2018

Ask a Dentist: Is it Really Necessary to Get a Cleaning and Exam Twice a Year?

Most people have heard that they need to see their dentist twice a year from a dental cleaning and exam. However, many of them don’t understand why this is necessary. With many people going without dental insurance, they may be tempted to wait to go to the dentist until they have a reason to. The bad news is that by the time there’s a need to visit the dentist, the problem has likely become quite expensive.

At California Dental Group, we do recommend that most patients come see us twice a year. Read on to learn about the benefits and then reach out to us at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment. If cost is your concern, know that we do offer dental financing options and that we offer unique dental specials and discounts on a monthly basis.

Deep cleanings are important

It doesn’t matter how well you brush, even if you do better than anyone else, you simply can’t clean your teeth and gums as well as a dentist can. For example, tartar will build up. Yes, you can take steps to reduce tartar formation but you can’t prevent it entirely and it takes a dentist’s professional tools to remove it. Having your teeth deep cleaned twice a year is the best and most effective way of ensuring that your teeth are actually clean and healthy.

We can check for serious health problems

One of the most important reasons to get regular dental health care is that we can check for serious health issues. There are a number of oral cancers that should be screened for. These cancers can have excellent survival rates provided they are discovered sooner rather than later. Your dentist will do an oral cancer screening and can talk to you about early warning signs to keep an eye out for.

We can check for less serious health problems

While it is important to check for life-threatening diseases, we also need to check for less serious issues that can harm your health nonetheless. For example, most people will experience a cavity at some point in their lives. While it isn’t generally life threatening, the sooner it’s handled, the more affordable and less painful it will be.

Another common example is gum disease. It begins as gingivitis, which is a less developed version of the more serious periodontitis. When it gets to a more serious stage, it can require serious intervention including surgery. When caught at the gingivitis stage, changes to brushing, medicated toothpastes, and a dental cleaning can be enough to get rid of it.

If it’s been more than six months since you visited the dentist then we encourage you to contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161. If you need help paying for your visit, be sure to ask us about what insurance plans we accept or what payment plans we can help you set up. Contact us today to ensure your teeth are as healthy as possible.

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