Even if you’re an enthusiast when it comes to taking care of your teeth and gums, a visit to the dentist is still necessary every now and then. But how often should you have a checkup? For over half a century, the general rule has been to visit the dentist twice a year for checkups and cleaning. While this rule of thumb works for most people, the actual amount of times you should be visiting your dentist should be tailored to you specifically.
A study published in The Journal of Dental Research found that a personalized approach to dentistry has better results with regards to preventive care. The appropriate number of times is actually a function of age and risk factor.
Children
For proper speech, biting and chewing capabilities, it is imperative that children have healthy teeth. There is a dangerous misconception among most parents that since baby teeth will be lost anyways there is no need for dental checkups. Permanent teeth are at risk of decay if the baby teeth are also affected by decay. To prevent oral health problems, it’s best to take young children to the dentist within six months of the first tooth coming in.
Adults
In adults, most people will do just fine with having a checkup twice in a year. If your dentist identifies you as having low risk of dental disease, then you may even get away with seeing your dentist once a year.
However, certain factors can increase the risk of dental disease and therefore the amount of visits you make to the dentist to even once every three months. Such factors include:
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Oral Contraceptive Use
Elders
For aging seniors, the rule of thumb indefinitely applies and they must get checked at least twice a year even if they have taken perfect care of their teeth so far in life. The same factors that apply to adults matter here as well along with age related conditions. Those who are wearing dentures will still have to visit to see if they are properly fitting, cosmetic dentistry procedures and treatments and if needed, make any adjustments.
Schedule an Appointment Today!
When it comes to dental health care, there is no single solution that applies to everyone. At Stone Springs Dentistry, we recognize the need for a personalized approach to dentistry and family dental care to our patients with a complete dental care plan customized to their needs.
So if you or your family is in the Aldi, South Riding area and needs dentistry services make an appointment today and be well on your way to perfect dental health.