You have made an appointment for a dental examination, but you don’t know what to expect? Going to the dentist is essential for your oral health 1 . This is an opportunity for your dentist to check for cavities, the health of your gums and to perform scaling and other minor procedures. A check-up visit to the dentist every 6 months to 1 year will help you stay on track with your dental health.
What does the dentist do during a check-up?
Check-up visits to the dentist often take place the same way. Here are the three most common steps:
Cleaning and scaling : visits to the dentist for an annual check-up often begin with a thorough cleaning of your teeth. Indeed, once dental plaque has mineralized and turned into tartar, only a dentist can remove it by performing scaling, an often painless step. This scaling is essential to avoid the proliferation of cavities and the onset of gingivitis and can help you find whiter teeth.
Complete examination : going to the dentist is also an opportunity to detect cavities or gum problems, to treat them as soon as possible and avoid more serious problems. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the easier the treatment will be.
X-ray : Performing an X-ray can diagnose problems that are not visible to the naked eye. A wisdom tooth that grows crooked, a bone lesion or interdental caries can be detected using an X-ray during a simple visit to the dentist.
When necessary, your dentist will take advantage of this check-up visit to carry out rapid treatment: superficial caries, treatment of an abscess, etc. If longer treatment is necessary, he will offer you an additional appointment to carry out this treatment.
Going to the dentist for a consultation is also an opportunity to take stock with him of your habits and your oral hygiene. He can help you choose the toothbrush , the toothpaste and mouthwash adapted to your needs and your lifestyle
How often should you visit your dentist?
If your teeth are healthy, once every 6 to 12 months is a good frequency to go to the dentist. In pregnant women and in people with a fragility or a particular dental problem, a consultation every 6 months will potentially be necessary.
Note that you should not wait until you have a toothache to go to your dentist for a consultation. When the pain is present, it means that the dental problem is already well established.
Dental phobia is common and prevents many people from going to the dentist. If so, read our article dedicated to dental phobia to discover our advice and be able to go to the dentist serenely.
In time, your visits to the dentist will no longer be a problem. Indeed, by respecting a certain rhythm of visits to the dentist, your appointments can turn into a simple formality, especially since you should have teeth in excellent condition if you take good care of them! As you have understood, a check-up visit to the dentist is essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
