How Often Should My Family Visit The Dentist?

Going to the dentist is not usually at the top of everyone’s list of fun things to do— but it is something that should be done every six months. 

Keep reading to find out what to expect on these routine visits, the benefits of visiting the dentist so often, and why some patients may need to see the dentist more frequently. 

What Happens at a Routine Dental Visit? 

Routine dental visits for everyone in the family – kids and adults alike – may vary from dentist to dentist, yet they are all relatively the same. You can almost always expect a cleaning, examination, and, on occasion, digital images.  

It doesn’t matter how well you clean your teeth between visits, there are certain areas that get missed along the way where buildup of plaque can occur. This increases your risk of tooth decay. A professional dental cleaning at your dentist will remove the sticky plaque, leaving your teeth fresh and free.

An oral examination by the dentist will allow any potential issues to be caught before they get worse. A treatment plan can then be created to address these issues before they become more complex down the road. 

This is all part of the proper care and treatment for your oral health — and it all comes with a routine dental visit. 

Benefits of Routine Dental Visits

Visiting your dentist regularly can provide you with many opportunities and advantages for improving or maintaining your oral health, including:

• A reduced need for more complex dental work. When you visit the dentist routinely, you can feel confident that your dentist will be able to spot potential issues and address them early—before they become more complex and require more invasive treatment. 

• Learn how to properly care for your teeth. Routine appointments give your dentist the chance to see how well you are maintaining your teeth between visits. And, they can point out any changes you may need to make for optimal health. 

• Enhance your overall health. Your oral health and overall health are connected. Poor dental care can lead to the spread of infection throughout the body. However, when your teeth are properly cared for, you can feel confident that you are not damaging your health as a whole.

• Save money. There is no denying that dental work can be expensive – especially when it is a complex procedure. With routine visits, you reduce the need for major dental work and save yourself money. 

Routine dental visits allow you to save your teeth, promote the longevity of your healthy smile, address things like bad breath and bruxism, as well as give you peace of mind that your oral health is on point. 

Personalized Dental Needs

Each patient is going to have a different set of dental needs. So bi-annual dental visits may not be enough. 

Depending on a few factors, your dentist may suggest coming in at a different frequency. A couple of these factors include your current oral health, dental treatment history, future dental needs, and the like. 

It is not uncommon for dentists to recommend dental visits every three months for those who have greater risk factors. 

Schedule Your Family’s Next Dental Visit

If it has been a while since your family has visited the dentist, then it is time to make that appointment. At Fairbanks Dental Associates, come in for a professional cleaning and oral examination. We can work together to address your oral health needs. 

Contact us today at 254-778-4402. Or, request an appointment online.