Today was my regular six-month dental checkup. Just for the fun of it, I asked for a digital copy of one of my x-rays. Regular dental checkups are important to maintain good oral and dental hygiene and health. Regular checkups can also save money over the long term, since small problems are more easily and cheaply taken care of if caught early.
First of all, regular dental checkups help to maintain and care for teeth and gums. The dentist examines the teeth so see if they require cleaning, cavity filling, and/or other preventive or corrective measures. Crooked teeth are examined, and any issues, such as halitosis, are addressed.
Many larger dental problems are prevented. For example, a dental cleaning helps teeth look and feel better, as well as avoid gum recession and/or inflammation in the future. Also, filling a small tooth cavity may prevent tooth loss or a painful root canal in the future.
Small procedures, such as cleanings and fillings, can actually save money. A simple cleaning is inexpensive and may even be paid by some dental insurance plans. However, treatment for inflamed and/or receding gums is both costly and time consuming. Likewise, a cavity filling may cost a little bit of money or small insurance co-pay. However, if inattention to a small cavity leads to tooth loss, the money required for a dental bridge or dental implant will be significantly more. Root canal therapy can cost as much as ten times as a simple cavity filling.
Finally, regular dental checkups can also save one’s life. Each year, around 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed worldwide. While oral cancer is curable when found and treated in its early stages, the disease symptoms often go unnoticed. Small bumps, spots, or ulcers on the inside of cheeks, lips, or throat are a common indicator of early oral cancer. These manifestations are often painless and hidden away, so a patient may not even know there is a problem. A dentist checks for these early warning symptoms.
Let’s be grateful that we live in North America where dental care is available — and let’s be grateful that we have employment with dental care benefits.