3 Reasons Why It Is Important to Have Regular Dental Check-Ups
Hi, I’m Dr Kim Nguyen, one of the dentists here at Pitt St Dental Centre in Sydney CBD.
Yesterday, a new patient, Peter from Balmain, came to the clinic for his first dental check-up and clean since COVID.
During our consultation, he asked me, “Kim, is it really that important to get a check-up and clean regularly? Why is that?
This is such a common question, so I thought I’d make this short video.
The number one reason is that most dental diseases are preventable.
And, prevention is always better than a cure.
The biggest factor of dental decay and gum disease is the amount of bacteria that’s built-up on the teeth over time. So they need to be regularly removed and cleaned. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how well you brush your teeth, there are some spots, especially towards the back molars, that are impossible to reach. By having your teeth cleaned professionally, it reduces the chance of developing gum disease and other diseases that the bacteria might carry.
Secondly, if you have a cavity, we want to catch it while it is still small. By having regular check-ups, we can usually pick up the small problems that can be resolved very efficiently and cost-effectively.
For example, you’ve got a small hole, all we need to do is put a filling in there, and that’ll be fine. However, if we let the cavity progress and it starts infecting the nerve of the tooth, we might need to have a root canal therapy and then a crown to get the tooth fixed. And we don’t want that.
The less complex the dentistry is, the better it is for you and me in the long term.
Thirdly, regular check-ups allow us to monitor and note any changes in your teeth. For example, we can help monitor the wear of your teeth, as well as its causes.
If we notice you are going through a stressful period in life, and you grind your teeth a lot, we may prescribe you a night guard to wear to reduce the amount of damage you have on your teeth. This will also save you from having to rebuild your teeth if they are all worn down.
We will also check for things like oral cancer, which is crucial to pick up early to ensure a good prognosis. Other systemic illnesses such as diabetes can be reflected in the condition of your gums.
So for us dentists, we don’t just do check-ups and cleans for the sake of seeing you once every six months to clean your teeth. We want to look after your oral health holistically, to make sure you have excellent dental and systemic health in the future.
I hope this video helps you understand how important it is to get regular dental check-ups and cleans.
If you’re looking for a new dentist to look after you, we do offer a New Patient Promotion for all new patients in our clinic here at Pitt St Dental Centre.
Simply call us on 02 9223 4767, complete the booking form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll be in touch to help you organise your consultation. See you soon.
The content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. Pitt Street Dental Centre does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the content.
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional personal diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen on the Site.
Services We Mentioned:
Comprehensive Examination & Dental Hygiene
Mouthguards
Dental Crowns
Root Canal Therapy
Initial Consultation
Tooth Fillings
Related Articles
Kristen K.
I have been going to Dr Cai for almost two years and each time I visit he and the staff are so lovely and professional. I cannot recommend them enough.
Nikki J.
Best dentists I have ever been to. I even travelled to Pitt Street Dental when we lived interstate to see them. Very capable, thoughtful and kind dentists and team.