Eight Reasons Why Dental Exams Are So Important

Many people wonder why visit the dentist? The truth is that without regular dental exams and dental cleanings, your oral health and your overall health will be affected. At Advanced Dentistry of Centre County in State College, PA, regular dental visits help with reducing your risk of developing gum disease and with cavity prevention. At our family dental care, we believe that in order to take care of your teeth, you need to visit our dental office at least twice a year.

What happens at a dental exam?

During a dental exam at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County, we examine your neck, face, lower jaw, and lymph nodes. The rest of your dental exam will include:

• Examining your gums for signs of gum disease

• Checking for any chipped, cracked, broken, or loose teeth

• Assessing your bite

• Examining the inside of the mouth for signs of oral cancer

• Looking for damage to existing fillings

• Taking a dental X-ray

At our State College, PA office, we use these digital X-rays to get a more thorough picture of each patient’s oral health. This allows our cosmetic dentist to diagnose problems that cannot be seen with the naked eye, such as tooth decay, cysts, abscesses, impacted teeth, or bone loss. When these dental problems are addressed early on, you reduce your need for more costly or extensive procedures in the future.

After your dental exam, one of our dental hygienists will perform a dental cleaning. This is just as important as a dental exam since it keeps your teeth and gums clean, and reduces the chance of developing tooth decay or gum disease.

Why dental exams are important

There are many benefits to having a dental exam annually, including:

1. Treating gum disease early: Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to devastating effects on the teeth and gums. Gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease, is reversible if detected early.

2. Detecting oral cancer early: When detected early, oral cancer is treatable. Our dental team is trained to look for signs of oral cancer, including using a special light inside the mouth to look for dead tissue that is caused by tumors.

3. Addressing minor oral health problems quickly: When you have a cavity, it can be treated while it is a small hole – before it takes over your entire tooth, requiring a dental crown.

4. Rectifying teeth clenching or grinding: Bruxism can lead to wear on the teeth and changes in your bite. Bruxism treatment offers custom night guards that protect the teeth when you are sleeping.

5. Detecting other health issues: During a dental exam, our general dentist can detect major health problems, such as swollen lymph nodes. This allows us to refer you to your primary physician for further treatment.

6. Teaching proper oral hygiene techniques: Brushing and flossing correctly i an important part of your at-home dental routine. If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth thoroughly, you aren’t helping maintain your oral health. Our hygienist team can offer tips on the best oral hygiene techniques.

7. Checking your jaw or bite for abnormalities: TMJ therapy can treat dysfunction of the TMJ that, if left untreated, can lead to chronic headaches and ear pain. We can recommend night guards, cortisone injections, bite adjustment, or orthodontics to resolve your pain.

8. Keeping your teeth and gums clean: During an annual exam, a patient will also have a dental cleaning that will uncover hygiene-related problems. It’s especially important that kids have regular teeth cleanings as this is when their oral hygiene habits develop, and we can detect inconsistencies early.

Learn more about the benefits of dental exams

At Advanced Dentistry of Centre County, we encourage our patients in State College, PA to schedule regular dental exams every six months. This allows our professional dental team to diagnose and treat oral health problems early before they become more serious. When oral health issues are left untreated, they can affect your overall health. While skipping a dental appointment may not seem important, oral health problems, such as periodontal disease, can develop and progress quickly. To schedule a dental exam with a State College PA dentist, call our professional team today.