It’s sometimes said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s never truer than when it comes to dentistry. Dentists recommend that you come in for checkups biannually, but many people neglect to do that.
However, it’s vitally important to catch oral health problems before they advance significantly. Here’s why early detection is so important when it comes to dentistry.
Treatment Will Be Easier
Many oral health problems only get worse with time, so the longer that you take to address them the harder they will be to treat. Gum disease, for example, is degenerative—once it progresses to a certain point, it becomes impossible to reverse it completely.
If you see your dentist for frequent cleanings, you can prevent gum disease before it begins. However, treating it later on will require scaling and root planing, which is more complicated to perform. By taking the time to see your dentist more often, you can save more time and money in the long run.
Insurance Will Pay Out More
Dental insurance is a little different than normal health insurance; your insurance company will pay for a percentage of care depending on the type of treatment you’re getting.
Insurance companies are well aware that preventive treatment is more effective than waiting for a problem to develop, so they incentivize you to use it as often as possible. They will often pay for a much greater percentage of preventative appointments than they will for restorative treatments, and some plans will even pay for 100% of checkups and cleanings.
You’ll Be More Comfortable
As oral health conditions progress, they’ll start to become more uncomfortable. Taking care of your teeth so that you don’t get cavities is naturally more comfortable than waiting until decay sets in. If preventing oral health conditions feels abstract, just keep in mind that those biannual visits will be able to keep you feeling as good as possible for as long as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Nelson Howard has been practicing for over 34 years, and when you visit his office you can reap the benefits of all of that experience. Whether you need a simple checkup or a full mouth restoration, he’s confident in his ability to help. Dr. Howard graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry. He’s also an Accredited Member of the American Academy of General Dentistry, a prestigious distinction earned by less than 500 dentists worldwide.
If you have any questions about the importance of regular checkups, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (858) 451-0550.