Regular dental visits are important because they can help spot dental health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.

• Your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold
• Your gums are puffy and/or they bleed when you brush or floss
• You have fillings, crowns, dental implants, dentures, etc.
• You don’t like the way your smile or teeth look
• You have persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
• You are pregnant
• You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck
• You have difficulty chewing or swallowing
• You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay
• You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders or are HIV positive
• Your mouth is often dry
• You smoke or use other tobacco products
• You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy
• Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up; you have an uneven bite
• You have a spot or sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away

The dentist or hygienist will ask about your recent medical history, examine your mouth and decide whether or not you need x-rays. Depending on your treatment plan, the hygienist may use a special dental instruments to check your gums for gum disease. Your dentist will evaluate your overall dental health and conduct an oral cancer screening by holding your tongue with gauze, checking it and your whole mouth, then feeling your jaw and neck.

There is no one-size-fits-all dental treatment. Some people need to visit the dentist once or twice a year; others may need more visits. You are a unique individual, with a unique smile and unique needs when it comes to keeping your smile healthy.

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while ever, you may wonder why X-rays are necessary. While a dentist can see your teeth, the “tops” or “crowns” of your teeth are only part of your dental health. The dentist also needs to assess the health of the roots of your teeth, which are below the gums and not visible. The dentist is also looking for issues “between” your teeth, which may be too difficult to see because of the tight spacing between teeth. Digital X-rays allow dentists to properly diagnose potential issues before they arrive so we can provide minimally invasive, lower-cost treatment to the patient. Our modern digital X-rays also have minimal radiation exposure to the patient and our staff. Technological advancement has led to a complete set of X-rays having less exposure to radiation than an average one-way airplane flight. wants to diagnose potential issues before they cause you pain or risk your dental health. Catching problems early minimizes patient cost, time, and discomfort. So, a preventative X-ray can often help a dentist confirm or rule out a potential issue so it can be addressed early. At our office, we recommend 4 “bitewing” X-rays during your regular cleanings every six months. These smaller X-rays are towards the back of the mouth, where it is most common for buildup or cavities to form. Additionally, because this area is more challenging for the dentist to see because of the location, it aids in confirming any diagnoses the doctor may have from the visual checkup. If anything bothers the patient at the appointment, the dentist may also recommend additional X-rays, but only in the areas where the minimum is necessary.

Full-mouth X-rays are typically taken during new patient exams. However, for bitewing X-rays, our dentist recommends small ones in the back of the mouth during your regular 6-month check-ups. Since cavities form more prevalently in the back of the mouth, this guidance is a preventative measure to identify issues before they occur.