Guess how often you should see your dentist in a year. Maybe you see your general doctor once a year for your annual check-up so you think it should be the same for your dental care. In fact, the standard recommendation is to visit your dental practice every six months. Most insurance plans cover this number of preventive dental care visits. Depending on the state of your oral health though, your dentist may even suggest visiting every three or four months, and here’s why.
Treating Gum Disease
For many people, their oral health can be maintained with a professional dental cleaning and exam twice a year. For those dealing with gum disease, it’s necessary to visit more often. This allows us to remove bacteria before it can reproduce and the disease spreads. During these visits, your dental team will perform a deep cleaning that goes further than your routine cleaning in order to make sure that the infection hasn’t developed above and below the gumline.
Patients with Dry Mouth
Dry mouth isn’t just what happens when you haven’t drunk a glass of water in a while. It’s an actual health condition caused by the lack of sufficient saliva production in the mouth. Saliva plays a crucial role in washing away bacteria from our teeth, and if you have dry mouth, it can increase your risk of cavities and gum disease. For that reason, patients with the dental condition may benefit from more frequent dental cleanings to keep any issues at bay.
Visit Us at Gary Johnson DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
If you’re not sure how often you should come in for dental visits, contact us at Gary Johnson DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Johnson and the rest of our friendly team would be happy to make a recommendation based on the unique needs of your smile. In addition to periodontal care, we provide a wide assortment of other dental treatments, including restorative solutions and cosmetic makeover services.