Skipping Routine Visits: What Are the Consequences?
As it is often said, routine visits are very important for keeping a healthy smile. Unfortunately, too many people still fail to visit their dentist regularly. They often think that they don’t need to see the dentist when their mouth or teeth aren’t painful or are showing no symptoms.
But skipping routine visits puts you at a higher risk for oral health problems which could then be expensive to treat. To help you get a clearer picture, the Groupe dentaire API team prepared this article that explains the consequences you face if you don’t visit a dentist for many months, or many years…
Plaque and Tartar Build-Up
Dental plaque is a thin layer of saliva, food residues and bacteria that forms a deposit on the tooth surface. Most of the dental plaque is successfully removed during daily brushing and flossing. However, the plaque often accumulates in parts of the mouth that are more difficult to reach. Plaque that is not removed inevitably calcifies and transforms into tartar. Tartar is a solid and yellow material that can only be removed during a professional dental cleaning.
It is important that dental plaque and tartar be completely removed during routine visits because otherwise, bacteria that proliferate then can cause problems such as tooth decay or gum diseases.
Bad Breath
If you skip routine visits and the professional dental cleaning that occurs then, you leave an impressive number of bacteria to proliferate on the tooth surface and inside the mouth. By feeding on sugar contained in food residues, bacteria produce gas that releases a bad smell. You face the risk of dealing with chronic bad breath.
Getting fresh breath is another good reason to visit your dentist regularly!
An Oral Health Problem Likely to Worsen
Without routine visits, your dentist doesn’t have the opportunity to examine your teeth and mouth tissues to make sure they’re in good health. Without these regular exams, a problem causing no symptoms will not be diagnosed. It is then likely to develop and worsen. Sadly, many oral diseases cause little or no symptoms when they’re at an early stage.
Routine visits thus allow your dentist to examine your mouth and teeth to detect any irregular sign or symptom, which will then help him make a diagnosis and direct you without delay to the appropriate treatment. Otherwise, a growing problem can become more complex and more expensive to treat. In the long run, routine visits are cost-effective if they prevent problems whose treatment requires more comprehensive care.
What Is the Recommended Frequency for Routine Visits?
At Groupe dentaire API, we usually recommend one or two visits per year. Our hygienists can then regularly perform a thorough cleaning and descaling of your teeth. Our dentists can also examine you and take action to catch any issue before it even causes damage to your mouth. Nevertheless, depending on the state of your teeth and the issues you suffered from in the past, a closer follow-up may be recommended. Your dentist will decide with you the recommended frequency in your case!
For more information, ask the Groupe dentaire API team. We are dedicated to your smile’s health, and we wish you to enjoy all the advantages of visiting us regularly!
Approved by Dre. Evelin Ingrid Radu
Dr. Evelin Ingrid Radu, general dentist in Laval, fan of general and family dentistry
Dr. Radu has been practicing at Groupe dentaire API for over 10 years. She uses her gentle and human approach to help each of her patients have a pleasant experience at the clinic. She can serve her patients in 6 different languages.
Dre. Evelin Ingrid Radu
