In this blog on the importance of regular dental checkups, we will look at the following topics:
- Understanding the Value of Regular Dental Care
- Cost of Dental Checkup Without Insurance
- Customized Dental Care Plans for Individual Needs
- Preventive Care: The Key to Long-Term Oral Health
Understanding the Value of Regular Dental Care
It may feel like we get the “gist” of dental cleanings since we have to sit through the whole process twice a year, but a lot goes into these regular visits that make them vital alongside at-home dental care.
Preventing Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
It might seem like staying on top of brushing and flossing at home is enough to prevent tooth decay – but this is false. The reality is your at-home tools, like a toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash, cannot remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.
In one 2021 study, only 65% of adults aged 18 and over had a dental visit within the past year, and along with this, 47.2% of all adults aged 30 years and older have some form of gum disease.
Another study found that brushing once daily removed less than 50% of plaque, leaving about 60% after brushing to promote rapid regrowth. Brushing alone is not enough. A healthy and consistent combination of regular brushing and dental visits has proven to decrease the risk of gum disease.
Early Detection of Dental Issues
Alongside removing the tricky plaque built up throughout the year, regular dental services provide insight into other complications. Your dentist is the expert in spotting signs of serious issues like oral cancer, cavities, and gum diseases.
You may think that these things can be caught at home, but even something as dangerous as oral cancer can have no visible symptoms, requiring professional examinations and X-rays to diagnose. At each dental visit, your dentist looks for any issues with oral health. Likewise, keeping up with your exams every six months allows for early intervention of oral problems, which can increase the success of dental treatments.
Cost of Dental Checkup Without Insurance
Without dental coverage through a health insurance program, the average cost of dental care checkups, complete with a cleaning and x-rays, is anywhere from $100 to $300 per visit. Thankfully, even if you don’t have insurance, x-rays are only recommended every six to 18 months, and a dental cleaning alone can be as low as $40 for a single appointment.
Customized Dental Care Plans for Individual Needs
Common dental procedures, such as tooth extractions or root canals, aren’t necessary for every patient. While one patient may require wisdom teeth removal, another patient’s wisdom teeth may not need any altering at all.
There’s no one-size-fits-all plan for oral health. Of course, you have general guidelines such as brushing and flossing, regular check-ups, etc., but our team recognizes that every patient’s situation is unique. Because of this, we work with you to develop a quality dental care plan that addresses your concerns and long-term goals for oral health.
Certain individual factors may influence the frequency of your visits, such as your oral health status and history. For example, if you’re diagnosed with oral cancer, diabetes, or HIV, you may need to see your dentist more than twice a year to ensure no further complications develop.
Your dental care plan isn’t about oral health alone; we can address unique concerns about your smile’s physical appearance with different cosmetic dentistry options. Our passionate team of dentists wants you to feel and look your best, and that takes an individualized approach to your dental care.
Preventive Care: The Key to Long-Term Oral Health
Over a third of Americans don’t visit the dentist at least once annually, and only around 9% go the recommended amount – twice per year.
Dental cleanings are essential to maintaining good oral health. While many of us dread our bi-annual dentist visits, these visits save you from extra visits by preventing dental problems like cavities and gum disease.
When you forego professional dental care, you put yourself at risk of several oral health complications, including:
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
- Periodontal disease (gum disease)
- Root canal problems
- Tooth stains
- Unaddressed oral cancer
Likewise, your oral health connects to your overall well-being, also called the oral-systemic health connection. Maintaining a good oral regimen reduces the risk of health complications beyond your gums and teeth, such as heart disease and diabetes.
A build-up of bacteria can create oral infections that lead to periodontal diseases. Along with the breakdown of tooth enamel, periodontal diseases are also linked to other health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. Brushing, flossing, and dental visits go beyond teeth cleanings; they protect your whole body!
Schedule Your Dental Checkup with Arizona Family Dentistry
Whether you’re a gold-star dentist goer or you’re about two years late to your last appointment, it’s never too late to resume routine dental visits. Learn more about AZFD’s commitment to patient oral health and how you can start with us today.
