Find out why seeing the dentist twice a year is always a good idea.

When was the last time you visited our Lincoln, NE, dentist Dr. Thomas Blankenau for a comprehensive dental exam? If it’s been more than six months then you are due for a visit. So, what might happen if you decide to go one year, two years, five years or more without seeing the dentist? Well….nothing good, we can certainly tell you that. But here are many of the problems you could encounter if you choose not to see your dentist for your six-month checkups:

Cavities

While at-home oral care is extremely important to maintaining good oral health nothing can replace these routine dental checkups every six months. Even if you brush and floss regularly and properly it’s still possible to miss spots. When plaque builds up it hardens into tartar, which your toothbrush can’t remove. Plaque produces acid, which erodes your teeth and eventually causing cavities. By coming in every six months for cleanings we can remove plaque and tartar to reduce your risk for cavities. Furthermore, we can also catch cavities much earlier when they are much easier to treat and have caused minimal damage.

Damaged Teeth

Unlike a broken bone, if tooth enamel becomes damaged it cannot repair itself; therefore, if a tooth becomes chipped or cracked the only way to fix the problem is to come into our office so our Lincoln, NE, family dentist can treat the injury and place the appropriate restoration, whether that is dental bonding, a filling or crown. It’s important to place a restoration over the tooth to protect what’s left of the healthy structure and to prevent further damage.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is an inflammatory infection that affects not just the health of the gums but also the teeth and bone. It’s the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Unfortunately, many people have some form of gum disease but don’t even know it. If gum disease is caught during the early stages (known as gingivitis) it can easily be reversed; however, by putting off your routine dental cleanings you could end up facing full-blown periodontitis, which requires more invasive treatment.

Oral Cancer

During your six-month checkups, our dental team will also examine your mouth to look for early signs of oral cancer. This simple screening is truly the best tool we have for detecting oral cancer early but if you don’t come into our office for routine checkups how are we supposed to catch oral cancer early when it’s still highly treatable? This screening only takes a couple of minutes, it’s completely non-invasive and it could just save your life.

Don’t put off getting the care your smile deserves now. Keep your teeth and gums healthy by visiting our dentist here in Lincoln, NE. Call Caring Family Dentistry today at (402) 423-9344 to schedule your next routine checkup.