How often should I go to the Dentist?

How often should I go to the Dentist?

Recent studies and surveys shows that, in Australia, a large percentage of Australians do not regularly attend the dentist. The reasons for this will be vast and varied but will usually stem down to cost, fear or not seeing the importance of it. The next statistic that is alarming is that a great number of people who attend the dentist usually only do because they are in pain or have a problem.

The importance of attending your dentist on a regular basis is huge. Regular check ups and cleans will help to pick up on dental and mouth problems before they escalate into something major. Further tests, such as x-rays, can also highlight problems you may not have been aware of. Just because you don’t feel you have any problems doesn’t mean you don’t have any!

A dental examination will screen not for only dental decay but also for possible periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancers, possible damaging habits such as tooth grinding and many other factors. These issues can go undetected for a long period of time before symptoms arise, at which point they may be far harder to treat and lead to far more treatment and cost involved.

As a rule of thumb you should visit your dentist every 6 months for an examination. Your dentist will then assess your case and decide whether or not you need to be routinely seen more or less often then 6 months. They will also decide the frequency with which dental x-rays should be taken; the norm for this is every 2 years.

Don’t leave it too long before you have your next dental examination. If you’re already overdue book today!