1. Why are regular dental checkups important?
It is because prevention is better than cure. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year can help you get
simple treatments for minor dental issues and early diagnoses of various dental diseases. It not only
saves you time and money, it gives you better results if treatment starts early.
a. Tooth Decay: What seem like a minor tooth irritant can fast lead to tooth decay if left unattended.
Regular cleaning of your teeth by a dentist preempts tooth decay by keeping your teeth disinfected.
Dentists can also identify other tooth problems and fix them with simple treatments.
b. Gum Disease: Recent medical research have linked certain major health conditions to gum disease.
Early detection of ill health in gums can preempt full scale gum disease. Early gum disease can also be
reversed faster if treated early. Regular dental visits give you cleaner teeth, knowledge about brushing
techniques and oral health routines.
c. Severe Dental Disease: Early detection and treatment of severe dental diseases not only gives you
faster and more effective outcomes, it can also save your teeth, gums and maybe your life. Routine
dental check-ups include screening for oral cancer, which is known to spread quickly to other parts of
the body. Hence, its early diagnosis can contain the spread and lead to better treatment outcomes.
2. When Should A Child Start Visiting a Dentist?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), a dentist should look at a child by its
first birthday or 6 months after the first tooth breaks out. In most children, primary teeth begin erupting
by time they are six months old.
The notion of regular check-ups from such an early may still be surprising to parents. However, studies
have shown higher incidences of dental cavities in pre-school children. Early dental visits can help
parents understand their child’s risks of developing cavities and take preventive steps.
Baby teeth determine how the infant bites and chews food and also how it speaks. Dentists will also
inform the parents on proper oral care for toddlers and infants, including diet and proper usage of
fluoride. The dentist will provide suggestions on various milestones of your child’s dental development.
He or she will show you the connection between thumb-sucking and teething and recommend steps to
prevent accidents that could damage the baby teeth.
Children grow initially with a mixed set of teeth (baby teeth and adult teeth), which determines their
future oral developments. Hence, it is essential that a dentist oversees the baby’s dental progress so you
can take good care of its teeth. A pediatric dentist will ensure that all the infant’s teeth develop
normally.