How Routine Dental Exams Can Help Preserve Your Teeth

If you’re not having any major issues with your teeth and mouth, you may be tempted to skip your regular dental exams when they roll around twice a year.

At Airport Dental Care in Austin, Texas, we’ve seen many patients over the years who have given in to that temptation and skipped their exams. Our advice, based on firsthand experience, is simply this: Don’t miss your routine dental exams!

These preventive dentistry exams are vital for preserving your oral health and keeping your teeth strong and healthy. Here’s why they’re so important.

What’s included in a routine dental exam?

When you visit Airport Dental Care, Dr. Brian LaBombard and his expert team take great care of you. 

Your visit includes an exam of your mouth, head, and neck to carefully look for any problems that may have cropped up since your last office visit. The dentist may also recommend X-ray imaging of your mouth, which can provide insight on a variety of oral health issues.

You also get a thorough, professional cleaning of your teeth and gums to clear away any plaque that’s built up over time. You should be brushing your teeth and flossing every day, but even so, plaque can begin to form in your mouth that can only be removed with professional-grade tools.

Your dentist also discusses your dental, medical, and family history to learn of any potential issues you may be facing based on your unique situation.

How routine dental exams help preserve your teeth

In addition to these benefits, your routine exams can help preserve your teeth by heading off several potential issues before they become full-fledged problems that are painful, expensive, and time-consuming to treat.

If the plaque isn’t cleaned off your teeth in a timely manner, it can cause tooth decay and cavities as it eats its way through the protective enamel on the outside of your teeth. 

If plaque and bacteria are allowed to make their way into your gums, they can cause gum disease, leading to swollen, bleeding gums.

Over time, left untreated, the plaque might move deeper into your tooth and the supporting bone in your jaw. As it eats away the bone, your tooth may loosen and eventually fall out.

Regular dental treatment also keeps your teeth whiter and your smile brighter, and gives your dentist a chance to look for any preliminary signs of oral cancer.

Dental exams and your overall health

Good dental health is linked to good overall health — if you allow gum disease to progress unchecked, it can also cause major health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

If it’s been some time since your last dental visit, don’t let that stop you. Call Airport Dental Care today to schedule your appointment or use the convenient online scheduler. We’ll see you soon!