Six Monthly Oral Health Checks

Burton family dentist, Mike Allen,  reviews why these are necessary.

Some of the newspapers today are reporting that a senior dentist is claiming that regular six monthly oral health checks are unnecessary for many people. They argue that, for those who have a healthy mouth, every two years or so may be sufficient.

From our perspective, we feel that this is a somewhat irresponsible statement to make and may cause harm to the nation’s oral health, if heeded. The fact is that if you have a healthy mouth, you may be less likely to need treatment, but problems do occur and if left undetected for two years, your mouth may not be as healthy as you think!

Compromised enamel

Even strong and healthy teeth can be damaged. This can happen in a number of ways and may even be completely unnoticeable to you, especially if you lose a small piece of enamel whilst eating something hard. Once this has happened, instant discomfort is not inevitable and you are likely to continue as normal.

The problem is that once a tooth has cracked or chipped, the softer dentin layer can be exposed. This layer is more porous and acids and bacteria are then able to enter this space, potentially causing decay and other infections.

If a six monthly examination is carried out by one of our experienced Burton dentists, these relatively minor problems will be detected and treated, quite likely with a simple filling. Leaving it for two years though, is almost certain to lead to more extensive dental treatment being needed.

Healthy gums

It isn’t just the teeth though. Healthy gums are an essential part of a healthy mouth, and if neglected, gum diseases can occur. If gum disease is detected in its early stages, a simple ‘scale and polish’ by our Burton hygienist may be all that is needed to reverse it, along with advice on any cleaning habits we feel you need to improve on.

Left for two years though, gum disease can advance and become quite serious; in the case of periodontitis, also affecting the bone in which the teeth are held, compromising their survival.

Diabetics

Some groups, such as diabetics, may actually need to see a dentist more often than every six months as gum disease, in particular, is a common problem. You may be recommended to pay Mike Allen’s Dental Practice in Burton a visit every three months or so, in order that we can help you to manage the risk.

We appreciate that visiting a dentist isn’t high on everyone’s favourite things to do, but, if you wish to keep your teeth and gums in good condition, we still recommend that regular six monthly checks are adhered to. You can contact our Burton dental practice by calling us on 01283 845345.