Hillcrest Dentist: Regular Visits Keep Your Teeth Healthier

One message your Hillcrest dentist wants to make sure to share is the importance of having regularly scheduled maintenance and cleaning appointments at the clinic. We know that in today’s busy world, visiting the dentist, at least on a regular non-emergency basis, is something probably low on most people’s priority list. At the same time, families and individual patients who have managed to prioritize their visits to our Hillcrest dentist office have found that they actually save time by avoiding dental emergencies or more complicated procedures, which often are more expensive and take more time. In addition, the habit of coming in to see the dentist regularly also promotes a sense of accountability, which encourages better oral hygiene habits. We recommend that you come in at least twice a year, or every six months, despite the fact that we are happy to see you if you make it even at least once a year. Unfortunately, due to any number of factors, the number of people who have been taking advantage of dental services for maintenance and cleaning has actually been going down. There is plenty of evidence to support the importance of seeing your Hillcrest dentist regularly.

When you come into our Hillcrest dentist office, it gives us the opportunity to perform two very important functions. First, we are able to clean your teeth and remove any excess plaque. Most people recognize plaque as the yellowish film that builds up on teeth, also recognizing that you cannot get all of it with a toothbrush. This plaque can build up, leading to bacteria acid secretions that cause decay and cavities. If we are able to remove this extra plaque at least once a year, preferably once every six months, it does a great deal to reduce your exposure to oral bacterial acidic secretions and your chances of getting a cavity. However, that is not all we do.

The second thing we do when you visit our Hillcrest dentist is to perform a complete examination of your mouth and teeth. We do this using all the technology at our disposal, including dental imaging. The mouth is the barometer of the body, so a complete investigation of the mouth often tells us what is going on with the rest of your body. From the mouth’s perspective alone, one of the recent additions we are very serious about is the screening for oral cancer. Dentists are in a unique position to notice the first signs of oral cancer. When we are examining your mouth, it is easy for a medical professional to notice the telltale signs, which can include lesions on the gums, tongue, and in the throat. With any disease, and particularly one like oral cancer, the sooner we are able to identify it, the sooner we can start treating it for a complete recovery. If you have not had an oral cancer screening at this Hillcrest dentist recently, we will be sure to discuss it at your next visit.