Twice a year, you are expected to see your dentist for a regular checkup and cleaning. These preventive visits make it possible for you to continue enjoying a healthier smile throughout the year that is free of tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and other common dental problems. But if you’re like most people, you’ve contemplated skipping a dental cleaning altogether. After all, nothing too bad can happen, right? Wrong! Before you decide to make up an excuse to bypass your dentist’s office, a professional shares a few things that can lead to more timely and costly dental care in your future.
The Creation of Cavities
When plaque-causing bacteria forms on your teeth and around your gums and is left without professional care, you put yourself at risk for cavities. Also known as dental caries, these small holes form when plaque eats away at the tooth enamel, leaving it vulnerable to move serious infection. To fix a cavity, your dentist will need to treat it with a filling or a dental crown. The latter is used in situations where the cavity penetrates beyond the enamel and into the dentin layer. If it extends deep into the pulp, you can be faced with root canal therapy or a tooth extraction depending on the severity.
With regular dental checkups and cleanings, a hygienist can easily remove plaque and tartar build-up, apply fluoride to your teeth, and minimize your risk for cavities.
Growing Gum Disease
Your teeth are not the only parts of your mouth that can be negatively impacted. If bacteria spread beneath your gum tissue and causes them to become inflamed or bleed when brushing or flossing, you are in the initial stage of gum disease (gingivitis). If left untreated, it can go on to create gum pockets, further attacking the tissue and resulting in irreversible damage to the bone. Patients who suffer from periodontitis are required to undergo periodontal therapy such as scaling and root planing to manage the problem and prevent future reinfection; however, this is an ongoing process for which there is no cure.
Without regular cleanings, those suffering from gum disease can face bone and tooth loss as well as more serious health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and even neurological problems like Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
How Skipping a Cleaning Can Cost You
While you might think skipping out on a dental cleaning will save you money, this simply is not true. Instead, you are putting yourself at risk for more frequent visits and costly procedures in an effort to save your smile. Periodontal therapy, fillings, dental crowns, root canals, tooth extractions, and tooth replacement are all expensive methods of treatment. Even if your dental insurance company will agree to cover a portion of the cost, you may still be responsible for the remaining balance.
When you consider your other financial obligations, it is easier to see why it’s best to avoid skipping out on even one dental cleaning. Not only will you enjoy a healthier, more beautiful smile by seeing your dentist, but you’ll keep more money in your pocket and avoid potential restorative and emergency dentistry in your future.
About the Author
As a dental professional for more than 40 years, Dr. Jack Markusen served in the United States Air Force in 1968 before being honorably discharged in 1971. Attending the Medical University of South Carolina, School of Dentistry, he graduated in 1976. Since that time, he has been helping residents of Myrtle Beach and its surrounding communities achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. No matter if it has been six months or five years since an individual’s last visit, he and his team always provide a judgment-free zone to ensure patients feel welcome, safe, and comfortable while working toward improved oral health. If you want to be more proactive with your dental hygiene but are unsure of what a typical visit looks like, visit our website or call (843) 916-0990.