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There are a few different opinions about how frequently you actually need to visit the dentist. A lot of us think that we should visit the dentist every six months – even if it’s not what we follow in practice. Some can get away with fewer visits. Others may need more frequent visits. People with very little risk of cavities or gum disease can do fine seeing their dentist just once a year. People with a high risk of dental disease might need to visit every three or four months, or more. If you have gum disease, or a history of gum disease, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits. Another reason you may need to see the dentist more frequently is if you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. The bottom line is that you need to at least see the dentist twice a year and you need to comply if it is recommended that you make those visits more frequent.

Dental x-rays are very safe. The amount of radiation that a dental x-ray produces is about the same as you would receive from a cross country airplane ride. Radiation is measured in millirems and one dental x-ray has only .5 millirems.

Three things need to be present to get cavities 1- a tooth, 2- bacteria, 3- sugar. The bacteria eat the sugar and during that process an acidic environment is created. The acid causes the minerals in your teeth to exit, weakening them and allowing the decay process to begin. Essentially every time you eat so do the bugs in your mouth. Brushing and flossing destroy the colonies of bacteria that buildup within a 24-28 hour period eliminating the major component of acidic production. Also remember that fruit juices and soda are very acidic and contain sugar so frequent consumption of these beverages can accelerate the demineralization process of teeth.

This disease and decay process for cavities starts long before your teeth ever start hurting. The best situation is to catch it while it is small and before it gets to the nerve of the tooth. This helps eliminate root canals, crowns (caps), and tooth loss by allowing us to place a little filling and not have to remove so much of your natural tooth structure. We also perform an intra and extra oral cancer screening and check your gum health. Cancer and periodontal disease may be present without causing any pain or discomfort.