General dentistry visits are a crucial aspect of every oral hygiene routine. Most people are aware of the importance of these visits and how they help to keep tooth cavities and other oral issues in check before they become problematic. Continue reading to know how frequently to visit your dentist for a cavity check.
If a patient has an excellent oral hygiene routine and a healthy mouth, the dentist may recommend a general dentistry appointment twice a year and for a good reason. After a cavity check and dental cleaning to remove plaque-causing bacteria, the bacteria start to recolonize the mouth within a day or two. Even with excellent oral care at home — thorough and careful brushing and flossing — it is hard to prevent plaques from forming over the teeth before six months.
The longer the plaque stays on the teeth, the more it hardens over the teeth to become tartar. Tartar is not removable with regular brushing and flossing. It requires the specialized tools and skills of a dental hygienist. Undergoing professional checkups and cleanings twice a year reduces the chances of heavy plaque accumulation and keeps the mouth healthy.
Plaque accumulation or tartar are the primary causes of tooth cavities and gum disease. The plaque contains acid that dissolves the enamel gradually. Tooth decay is progressive, meaning the condition will worsen if not checked and treated promptly.
Some of the tools used by the dentist to check for cavities and clean the teeth include:
Dentists use small handheld mirrors to check the backside of the teeth and the rear end of the oral cavity. The mirrors reflect light so that the dentist can detect the presence of cavities and tartar deposits around the teeth.
Scalers are metal handheld appliances that the dentist will use to remove plaques and tartar from the teeth. Scalers have double ends — a pointed side used for the parts of the teeth above the gum line, and a curved blunt side used to clean under the gum line without harming the gums.
After removing the plaque and calculus, the dentist will use the polishers and a mildly abrasive paste to polish the teeth to make them look whiter and shiny.
Besides cleaning the patient’s teeth, the dentist will perform a full oral examination — sometimes including x-rays — to know if the patient has or is developing oral health issues. The dentist can easily detect cavities that patients may miss because they have the experience and tools for that purpose. If they detect cavities on the teeth, they will recommend getting dental fillings to restore the affected teeth.
For many people, dentists suggest having a general dentistry appointment twice yearly — every six months. However, for patients who are more vulnerable to tooth cavities, the frequency of the visit could be more. If you are not sure of how frequently to go for cavity check, your dentist can make the proper recommendation.
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