Typically, a dentist recommends that patients have routine dental check-up appointments twice a year. These appointments allow for a thorough examination and cleaning done regularly to ensure good oral and dental health. However, there are times when more frequent dentist appointments are required.
In this article, we go over why a dentist may require or recommend more check-up appointments than normal. This information may be helpful to someone who is not sure of the reason behind their dentist's request.
Why Did My Dentist Recommend More Frequent Dental Check-Ups?
If the dentist recently recommended more frequent appointments, then a patient may want to find out why. Included are a few possible reasons below.
Decay
During a dental check-up, the dentist will take note of any signs of decay or infections. While the dentist will likely resolve the issue during that appointment, they will also want to keep an eye out in the future.
Decay can lead to tooth loss, which is why a general dentist may require more frequent check-up appointments. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Preventive measures
One reason why a dentist may require more frequent visits is so that they can perform preventive measures. Sometimes, the teeth are prone to damage, such as decay or infections, which can be hard to prevent. Visiting the dentist more often than twice a year will allow for more preventive measures to be taken.
Poor oral hygiene
When visiting the dentist, it may be recommended that a patient has dental check-ups more often than the norm of every six months. A lot of the time, a dentist recommends this because of poor oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene is often reflected during check-ups. The teeth or gums may indicate a need for more attention, such as better brushing or more regular flossing.
Having frequent dental check-ups will allow the general dentist or hygienist to perform more cleanings and examinations until better oral hygiene has been achieved. These appointments can also allow for recommendations on better hygiene habits.
Growth
Another reason for more frequent check-ups would be to monitor growth or developments — this is especially true for children or adolescents. Dentists may want to see a patient more often than twice a year if wisdom teeth are coming in or if there are signs that other developments may be taking place.
General dentists have patients of all ages and children that undergo a lot of changes while growing up. It is important for the dentist to ensure that everything is on track for the adult teeth to grow in.
Get Started Today!
Dental check-ups are typically done twice a year or every six months; however, in some scenarios, a patient may need them more frequently. If you have questions or concerns about the need for dental check-ups then reach out to our office so that we can help. Give us a call or stop by our office today.
Request an appointment or call Integrated Dental Care at (610) 600-9745 for an appointment in our Exton office.