Many Australians neglect the dentist for various reasons; however, it is actually more detrimental than you may think.
Year after year, countless Australians neglect to visit the dentist for a variety of reasons.
Some of these reasons may include financial reasons, dental anxiety (dentophobia), lack of time or the dentist not being open during suitable hours, and much more…
However, a lot of these people do not realise how detrimental they are to their oral health and overall well-being by not visiting their dentist, at least for a check-up and clean. Some patients even see this as a result of a complex dental treatment required down the line just because they didn’t make time to see their dentist…and this can become costly very quickly!
At Murwillumbah Dental, we not only want to care for your teeth and oral health, but we also focus on educating all of our patients.
In this article, our dentists hope to share the importance of visiting the dentist, even if it is twice a year for a brief check-up and clean, and what can happen if you neglect to visit the dentist.
What happens during a check-up and clean?
If you choose to neglect visiting the dentist, you’re putting off many treatments during a check-up and clean that are actually vital when it comes to maintaining healthy, adequate oral health and well-being.
There is a common misconception that dentists clean teeth just as everyone does at home. This could not be further from the truth!
During a standard check-up and clean, your dentist will first begin with a check-up with you. This may mean discussing any concerns with your dentist and allowing your dentist to assess the overall health of your mouth to determine if further, more complex work is needed.
Once this is complete, we will move on to the cleaning process. Your teeth will be professionally cleaned, scaled and polished to help remove stains, built-up plaque and any tartar (calculus) that’s present.
If x-rays are necessary, your dentist may ask that you be patient while we take an oral scan of your teeth, jaw and bone structure. This will help our dentists have a better understanding of the inside of your mouth and assist with monitoring your teeth over time.
Finally, to help strengthen your enamel, our dentists will apply fluoride to protect your teeth further from tooth decay.
What happens if I don’t see the dentist?
When it comes to leaving plaque and tartar (calculus) build-up untreated, you may actually be inviting further oral health issues such as severe tooth decay, gingivitis or gum disease.
People who visit the dentist regularly or as advised, and maintain an adequate oral hygiene routine at home will most likely not need a periodontal clean (also known as a deep clean). However, for those who have put visiting the dentist off, you may find that you will be recommended a periodontal deep clean.
A periodontal clean ensures that all built-up tartar (also known as calculus) is professionally removed and treated from the tooth surface and in the gum region to ensure no further issues such as gum disease or severe tooth decay arise.
Book A Dental Appointment in Murwillumbah
If you’re looking for a new, reliable and qualified dentist in Murwillumbah or would like to book your next dental appointment as soon as possible, visit our website to book an appointment or call our team on (02) 6672 1068.
