Regular dental visits can protect your teeth, mouth, and gums, and also contribute to your overall health. Dr. Crystal Arpei-McHugh in Saratoga Springs, NY helps her patients correct gum disease, fix crowns and cavities, and even improve the look of someone’s smile. Most importantly, Dr. Arpei-McHugh helps her patients keep their regular dental appointments so that they can detect gum and tooth issues early before they become a larger problem.
Who Needs a Regular Dental Checkup?
Tooth decay and gum disease can occur at any age. Children who have just grown their permanent teeth, between the ages of six to eight, need regular checkups, and adults certainly need them since tooth decay is usually more prominent as people age. A dentist can check to see that a child's teeth are developing in a healthy way.
Adults definitely need regular dental visits to check in on their current oral health.
Checking for Cavities & Gum Health at Your Regular Dental Visit
Detecting cavities is one of the foremost concerns during a regular dental visit for all ages. Cavities happen because of our lifestyle choices, like eating sugary snacks, sipping on soda, or forgetting to brush and floss after meals. Cavities can permanently damage the surface of teeth, causing decay, and allowing bacteria into the gums and bloodstream. Making sure that cavities are detected early can prevent more serious tooth and gum damage, and also stop bacterial infections from occurring due to the damage to a tooth's outer shell or enamel.
How Often Do I Need a Dental Checkup?
While there is no hard and fast rule for when to schedule a dental check-up, periodic checkups can help identify: your overall dental hygiene and where it may need to be improved to prevent tooth decay or gum disease, whether or not you already have decaying teeth or receding gums, whether your bite is in alignment so that you don’t grind down your teeth when you sleep or cause tooth damage when eating, and if you need cosmetic dentistry such as tooth whitening, or Invisalign.
Every member of the family needs regular visits with a general dentist, on average twice a year. Sometimes a patient may need to go more frequently to take care of known issues, and others can stretch the time between visits slightly past six months.
Dr. Arpei-McHugh and her staff at Arpei-McHugh Family Dentistry help families in Saratoga Springs, NY, stay healthy with a great smile and a clean bill of health. You can schedule your regular dental appointment today at (518) 871-1520.