General Dentistry Check-ups for Lifelong Oral Wellness

We have all experienced oral health problems, from gum aches that blind-sight you on holiday abroad to toothaches that transform into the most severe of headaches. General dentistry check-ups ensure you are guarded against emergency oral problems like these and implement preventative practices to protect against oral cancer and gum disease, which can go undetected without regular dental appointments. 

Like many health appointments, we move aside in our busy lives. Regular appointments to monitor the health of our mouth, gums, and teeth are often left by the wayside, but bad oral health can have terrible consequences for our more comprehensive health. This blog will tell you all you need to know about general dentistry check-ups and how to book your next appointment. 

What is “General Dentistry”?

General dentistry is how it sounds. Rather than focusing on a particular area of oral health that may arise in emergencies or focused appointments, general dentistry looks at the overall health of the mouth, teeth, and gums. 

While these appointments look at the current health of your teeth and gums, they will also involve procedures designed to protect your oral health in the future – “general dentistry” is often referred to as “preventative dentistry.” These can include (but are not exclusive to):

• cavity fillings
• root canals
• crowns and bridges
• dental cleaning for plaque buildup and oral infections
• advice on good tooth and gum cleaning practices 
• oral cancer screening
• comprehensive examination of the mouth

What Happens During a General Check-Up?

1. Your dental professional will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth
2. They will enquire about your general health (as oral health is linked to overall health, both can point to possible problems in the mouth and broader in the body) and any issues you may have experienced since last visiting
3. They will talk to you about your oral health habits and anything that may cause your oral health to deteriorate in the future, including your diet, smoking, and teeth-cleaning practices. These habits will dictate how often you need to visit your dentist in the future:
   • If you have good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and brush your teeth and floss them daily, you will likely need to visit your dentist less often
   • If you drink or smoke regularly, you may need to see your dentist more frequently, as these can lead to tooth decay
   • If you have a family history of oral health issues, this can increase the regularity of your dentist appointments
4. The dentist will advise on minor health care operations you may need to undergo, such as fillings or a general mouth clean.
5. You will be advised when to return to the practice and book your next appointment.

Why You Should Have Regular Check-Ups

It is essential to have regular visits to your dentist. We all know quickly how mouth problems can spring up for us and how all-encompassing the pain can become when they arise. It is now widely understood that good oral health is linked to overall health. 

General health checkups can detect signs of bad oral health and protect you from more severe mouth-related diseases.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is the most likely culprit when an adult loses a tooth. Gum disease has broader implications for our overall health, too, with links to diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, and high blood pressure. These sometimes extreme side effects of advanced gum disease make it a central check for every dentist appointment. Regular dental appointments can detect signs of gum disease before they progress further.

Oral Cancer

One of the most common types of cancer, regular dentist check-ups can detect it in its earliest stages and begin treatment before it progresses, increasing chances of survival. Your dentist will also check for other dental diseases. 

Booking Your General Dentistry Check-Up

You might already have a semi-regular dentistry plan or feel nervous after a long gap between appointments. If the latter is the case – don’t worry. You must now seek a dentist appointment, and your dentist can work with you to form a treatment plan for the future so you don’t go long between appointments again. 

How regularly you should visit your dentist depends on a few factors. It is mainly dictated by how healthy your teeth are, your risk of dental problems, and your overall age and health. Depending on these factors, a dentist will advise you to visit the surgery within three to 2 years, though people with good oral health will likely organize appointments every 12 to 24 months.

It is essential to keep a record of your dentistry appointments, both for your oral health and the health of your body overall. Riverside Dental Care offers dental services from cosmetic dentistry to general health appointments, so head online now to book your next oral health appointment today.