The average dental patient should attend a routine check-up at their dentist’s office every six months. This establishes an ideal window where a dentist can clean plaque and other build-up from a patient’s teeth before it harms the dental structure. Regularly scheduled exams also allow your dentist to identify potential dental problems before they advance and cause significant damage to the smile.
Some patients, however, may need to see their dentist on a more frequent basis due to underlying health factors. Your dentist can help you develop a personalized preventative treatment plan to promote your good oral health at your next appointment.
Factors Influencing Frequencies of Dental Check-Ups
You can feel more confident in your dental care when you understand how certain conditions can impact your oral health needs. Read on to discover a few elements that are important in determining how often you should visit your dentist for routine care.
Chronic Medical Conditions
Your dental health is closely connected to your overall health. Therefore, if you have an underlying medical condition, you might need to visit your dentist on a more frequent basis.
Certain medical concerns may put you at a greater risk of dental issues, so it is important to make sure you review and update your medical history at your regular hygiene visits. This is especially important as dental problems can make it harder to manage chronic illnesses.
For instance, your mouth naturally contains bacteria, which can spread across your teeth to infect your gums if you do not adhere to thorough and consistent preventative oral health care. Gum disease results in inflammation in the gum tissue which can trigger the body’s inflammatory response.
It is well established that inflammation can lead to trouble managing symptoms of chronic conditions like diabetes. In addition, inflammation also leads to a higher risk of a stroke or heart attack with existing cardiovascular problems.
Pregnancy
Some health conditions might not be permanent, like pregnancy, but they can still influence your oral health. Hormone changes during this time can increase your risk for gum disease and other dental problems.
Oral infections like gum disease can impact your pregnancy in return. Therefore, you may need to schedule more frequent dental check-ups while pregnant to protect both your smile and your well-being.
History of Periodontal Disease
Patients with a history of oral health problems, like gum disease, may need to schedule dental appointments more often. They might need to see their dentist for routine care every three or four months.
If you frequently contract gum disease or tooth decay, you may have more aggressive oral bacteria. In this case, to keep excess bacteria at bay, you will require more professional cleanings from your dentist.
Frequent Tartar Formation
Patients with a higher propensity for forming tartar on their teeth will need similar dental attention. While you may practice good oral hygiene at home, you will still need to attend routine dental cleanings to remove plaque from spots of your smile that a toothbrush cannot reach. Otherwise, you could require more dental work to restore damaged teeth and gums.
Existing Dental Work
If you have existing dental work, like implants or crowns, in your smile, you may need to attend more frequent dental check-ups. This way, a dentist can examine the fixture as well as the surrounding parts of the mouth to ensure no bacteria infect the area. Give your dentist a call to learn the appropriate preventative dental care that will suit your specific needs.