One of the questions that our Mill Valley dentists hear the most is, “why do I need to come in for professional dental appointments? There’s nothing wrong with my smile!”
The truth is that your semi-annual dental appointments are vitally important for a number of reasons. And today we’re going to be talking a little bit more about why we encourage you to prioritize professional dental appointments in your life.
When you come in for your appointment, our team is:
Checking for cavities: it can be hard for patients to notice spots of decay and infection because it’s hard for them to see all of their teeth. One of the first things that our team will do is to screen your enamel, especially on your back molars, for signs of infection.
Oral cancer screening: we will also be checking your mouth for cancerous and pre-cancerous tissues. Oral cancers are most easily and effectively treated in their earliest stages, so you want to give your dental team every opportunity to spot changes in your oral tissues.
Helping you tweak your at-home oral hygiene routine: another important thing that our dental team does is to collaborate with you to maximize your oral hygiene efforts at home. We can recommendations regarding dental tools, like toothbrushes, and Waterpiks, as well as helping you pick the right toothpastes and mouth rinses for your unique smile.
Making long-term dental plans: as we get to know your smile, we’ll help you formulate a long-term dental plan for your smile. Depending on your situation, this may include restorative, cosmetic, and even tooth replacement treatment. Our goal is to make multi-phased dental care as convenient and seamless as possible for you.
As you can see, every semi-annual appointment is an opportunity to work with your dental team to achieve your dream smile. The American Dental Association’s general recommendation is that that patients of all ages see their dentists every six months or so. Our Mill Valley dental team will be able to let you know if you’d benefit from more frequent care.