Many people overlook the importance of their dental checkups. Often enough, it’s just teeth cleaning, they rationalize, so why not skip it and continue to brush regularly? However, a dental checkup can be much more than teeth cleaning.

Dr. Deborha Staten explains the importance of your six-month dental checkup.

Why Dental Checkups Are a Priority

Dental checkups allow a professional hygienist to remove any lingering plaque or tartar from teeth. If left to their own devices, plaque and tartar can cause tooth decay, necessitating a filling or other dental work. Oftentimes, dental patients don’t realize that they are missing a certain area when they are brushing. Thus, when a hygienist cleans a patient’s teeth, he or she can warn the patient about neglected areas.
However, dental checkups do more than clean a patient’s teeth. They also allow for the examination of the teeth and gums. During a dental checkup, your Las Vegas dentist, Dr. Staten, may detect signs of wear on teeth that indicate bruxism (teeth grinding). If untreated, bruxism can wear down teeth until they lose their structural integrity and can result in chipped, cracked, or broken teeth. Bruxism can also lead to a temporomandibular joint disorder, which has been linked with frequent headaches, earaches, and migraines.
During a dental checkup, Dr. Staten will also examine a patient’s gums. If the gums are swollen or red, or if they show the development of pockets between the gums and the teeth, the patient may have gum disease. If untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Lastly, Dr. Staten may also find signs of tooth decay during an examination, allowing her to take preventive action and limit further decay.

Schedule a Dental Checkup with Your Las Vegas Dentist – Dr. Staten

Regular dental care is a major factor in good oral health. If it has been six months since your last dental visit, schedule a dental checkup with Dr. Staten today.