In addition to your home oral hygiene habits, the care you receive from your dentist in The Woodlands is vital to maintaining oral health. However, all too often, people are not too sure how often they need to see their dentist. This is one reason why only 62% of adults visited their dentist last year. The American Dental Association recommends everyone over the age of two sees their dentist every 6 months for preventive care. However, there are some instances where you will need to schedule an appointment sooner.

Preventive Dental Appointments

Every six months, you need to schedule an appointment to have your teeth professionally cleaned and a comprehensive checkup. Even with the best home oral hygiene habits, there are still areas in the mouth that cannot be reached with a toothbrush or floss. If your teeth are not cleaned every six months, plaque and tarter buildup in these areas will begin to cause dental complications, such as tooth decay and gum disease.

In addition to cleaning the teeth, a thorough examination is performed. During the exam, the health of the teeth and gums are accessed. This allows us to detect potential dental concerns sooner to provide prompt intervention. Plus, we can recommend several preventive procedures, such as fluoride treatments, to help prevent damage before it even starts.

By maintaining regular appointments with your dentist, you lessen the risk for serious dental damages. By doing so, the need for costly or invasive treatments in the future are greatly reduced.

Visiting the Dentist Between Regular Appointments

Although it is recommended you see you The Woodlands dentist twice a year, there may be some instances where you need to see the dentist soon. For example, those who have gum disease or sleep apnea may require visits more often.

In between appointments, you may develop a dental problem despite efforts to prevent them. If you develop a toothache, have a tooth break, or a dental restoration fall off, you will need to schedule an appointment right away. You do not want to wait until your next preventive care appointment. If you delay care, the damage will continue to increase, causing the treatment to become more costly and invasive.

In addition, those undergoing certain cosmetic treatments, such as Invisalign, will need to see the dentist more often. When wearing Invisalign, you will need to schedule an appointment every few weeks so we can monitor the progression of the treatment.

Your Family Dentist for Complete Care

In most cases, you will only need to see your dentist every 6 months. It is important to keep these appointments to protect your teeth and gums from future damage. You do not want to wait to see your dentist until after a problem has developed.

As your family dentist, Dr. Johnny Taylor offers complete dental services, even preventive care. If you have not been to the dentist in the past 6 months, it is time to contact our office to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthy smile.