Know What to Expect at Your Check-Up

Most people know that it is recommended that you visit the dentist office every 6 months to have a professional dental checkup. However, not everyone sticks to this schedule. You may have some apprehension or fear of the unknown if you're not used to going to the dentist on a regular basis. As the best dental clinic in the southern Missouri area, Access Dental and Dentures is here to help ease your concerns and let you know what you can expect at a typical dental check-up. Keep reading to learn all about it! 

Before & Between Checkups

One of the first things to know is that regular dental health and hygiene at home can help your dentist appointments go smoother and more quickly. Important dental habits include brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing every day, and maintaining a balanced diet. 

Before your appointment, it's a good idea to come up with a list of any questions you may have for your dentist. You can even write them down if you're worried about forgetting them during the appointment. You may wonder about jaw pain in the mornings, why your gums bleed when you floss, or any number of other general questions about your oral health. Don't hesitate to ask - we are there to help! 

Dental Exam

Part of your appointment with a dentist will include an examination of your teeth and mouth. The dentist is performing this evaluation to see the status of your dental health and if there are any serious issues that need to be addressed. If needed, they may take x-rays of your teeth. This allows the dentist to see any underlying problems inside or between your teeth. Your teeth will be closely examined for any visible issues on the surface. Your dentist will also take a look at your gums to check for wear, separation, and inflammation - all of these could be signs of gum disease. 

Expect the dentist to also look at the rest of your head, including the face, throat, and tongue, for signs of trouble. If there is any swelling or redness, this could be a clue that there is a problem somewhere in your mouth that needs to be treated.

Cleaning Your Teeth

The other important part of your dental check-up is the teeth cleaning. Even with regular daily brushing and flossing, it is always possible that you are missing parts of your teeth. Dental hygienists can spot these areas and get rid of the harmful substances you have missed, like plaque and tartar.

Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria that you may be able to brush off, but when it is not removed right away, it can harden and become tartar. Tartar will not come off with just a toothbrush. Our office has special tools that can remove that tartar for you to keep your teeth healthy. 

Once the plaque and tartar has been removed, your teeth will be polished to remove surface stains that have formed since your last visit. Last, we will floss your teeth to make sure your mouth is completely fresh and clean!

Make an Appointment with Us!

If it has been awhile since your last dentist's appointment, then it is important for you to give us a call and schedule a check-up. You could be missing spots on your teeth that may be developing into serious dental issues that can turn into health hazards. The longer you wait, the more serious - and expensive - the issues can become. Call today to schedule an appointment with the best dentist in the Springfield area - Access Dental and Dentures! 1-877-DENTIST

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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Do You Really Need to See a Dentist Every 6 Months?

So, do you really need to see a dentist every 6 months? The short answer... doesn't exist! The general recommendation about how often you should visit Access Dental & Dentures for a regular checkup is every 6 months. In reality, some people can go an entire year between visits while others may need to visit our dental clinics in Southern Missouri as often as every 3 months.

The length of time between visits to your dentist depends on your own personal health. Every 6 months is a very reasonable time frame and is even covered by many dental insurances, but everyone is different. Talking over a personalized plan that is best for you with our skilled dentists in Southern Missouri is the way to get the answer you need. 

Prevention is Key
The main reason that 2 visits to the dentist a year is most often recommended is that preventing possible dental problems before they have a chance to happen is best for you, both medically and financially. Regular checkups alert you of small problems before they can become big problems, meaning less pain and fewer bills down the road.

Even the best brusher and flosser is bound to build up plaque and tartar between visits and professional cleanings keep your teeth healthy and safe from cavities and other oral problems. If you happen to have an insurance plan that allows for no-charge checkups twice a year, you might as well take advantage of this perk to keep your smile it's brightest and healthiest.

Who Needs More Frequent Visits?
In some cases, 6 months may be too long to wait between visits. If you are a person that has current health issues, you may need to come in as often as every 3 months or possibly sooner. Your dentist will be able to alert you if this is the case. Some reasons for more frequent visits could be:

• current gum disease
• weak immune system
• diabetes
• pregnancy
• a smoking habit

Ask For a Personalized Plan

On the other hand, if you happen to have strong, healthy teeth and no chronic issues, you may be able to get away with only 1 checkup and cleaning per year. The experts in our Southern Missouri dentist offices can evaluate this when you come in for a regular checkup and discuss what the best plan of action is for your personal situation. 

In conclusion, the amount of dental visits needed for a person every year is however many your Access Dental & Dentures dentist deems necessary. Every person is different so every course of action will be slightly different. As long as we work together to keep your teeth clean and healthy on a regular basis, you can look forward to a great smile for many years to come!    

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

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Springfield Office          Rolla Office             Osage Beach Office

(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447          (573) 348-1466         

1701 West Sunshine        416 S. Bishop Ave.   4320 Osage Beach Pkwy

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401      Osage Beach, MO. 65065

Mountain Grove Office              Aurora Office

(417) 926-1160                             (417) 308-3534

921-A N. Main                             1402 S. Elliott

Mountain Grove, MO 65711       Aurora, MO 65605

What to Expect at a Routine Dental Checkup

You should visit your trusted dentist in Southern Missouri every 6 months for a routine dental checkup. Along with regular brushing and flossing, this is the best way to keep your teeth healthy, clean, and strong. 

A dental exam is a good way to find the possibility of oral health problems early and have a better chance of avoiding them altogether. When you come in for your regular dental checkup at Access Dental, here is what you can expect to happen. 

Teeth Cleaning
There are two parts to every dental checkup - cleaning and examination. Even with regular daily brushing and flossing, it is always possible to miss something. We can spot and get rid of the stuff you have missed.

Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria that you may be able to brush off, but when it is not removed right away, it can harden and become tartar. Tartar will not come off with just a toothbrush. Our office has special tools that can remove that tartar. Once it's all gone, your teeth will be polished to remove surface stains that have formed since your last visit. Lastly, we will floss the teeth to make sure your mouth is completely clean.

Examination
If needed, x-rays may be taken. This allows the dentist to see any underlying problems inside or between teeth. Next, your teeth will be closely examined for any visible problems. Your gums will also be checked. The spaces between healthy gums and teeth are shallow. If they are deepening, that could be a sign of gum disease.

Expect the dentist to also look at the rest of your head, including the face, throat, and tongue, for signs of trouble. If there is any swelling or redness, this could be a clue that there is a problem somewhere in your mouth that needs to be treated.

Before & Between Checkups
During your visit to our dental clinic in Springfield, Missouri or one of our other offices closer to you, suggestions will be made for any improvements to your dental health routine between regular checkups. It's a very good idea to prepare for your checkup by making a list of questions that you would like to ask the dentist. That way you won't forget while you are here. You may also want to make a list of any changes you've noticed since your last visit, new health problems you have been diagnosed with, and medications you are taking regularly. All of these things will aid the dentist in diagnosing possible problems in your teeth and gums. 

You can make your regular checkups go a lot faster and much smoother if you adopt a good dental hygiene routine. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and be sure to floss daily. Using mouthwash also helps to control plaque bacteria.

If you did not schedule your next routine checkup after your last visit to Access Dental & Dentures, give us a call at 1-877-DENTIST and we'll help you get it on the calendar. Together, we will make sure that you have a healthy, beautiful smile for years and years to come!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile! 

1-877-DENTIST

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

Springfield Office          Rolla Office             Osage Beach Office

(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447          (573) 348-1466         

1701 West Sunshine        416 S. Bishop Ave.   4320 Osage Beach Pkwy

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401      Osage Beach, MO. 65065

Mountain Grove Office              Aurora Office

(417) 926-1160                             (417) 308-3534

921-A N. Main                             1402 S. Elliott

Mountain Grove, MO 65711       Aurora, MO 65605