Dental Check-Ups in Kent

Why Dental Check-Ups Are So Important For Your Oral Health

At Dartford Road Dental Centre, your well-being and the health of your teeth and gums are important to us. The dental maintenance you do at home, brushing, flossing, and regular Tepe use plays a significant role in the maintenance of your oral hygiene. However, there are areas of your mouth only a dentist can check. This is the importance of regular dental check-ups in Kent.

We all live busy lives, working around the clock and leaving little time for ourselves. This is likely why half of the UK adult population hasn’t visited the dentist in the last two years, and over a quarter of British adults (27%) only visit the dentist when they have a problem. Even though statistics show that 30% of adults say they regularly experience dental pain!

I am terrified of the dentist. Is this normal?

You are not alone. Many residents of Dartford and Kent find visiting the dentist a daunting experience. In fact, One in seven British adults have severe dental anxiety, thus leading to a quarter of adults admitting to avoiding dental visits because of anxiety, and a further 18% because they are afraid of getting bad news at their check-ups.

As a nation, our approach to dentistry is to allow problems to develop before we visit the dentist, creating further issues at the time and expense of you, the patient. Leaving problems untreated can make them more challenging to treat in the future and could result in extreme cases of tooth loss.

Regular dental check-ups will dramatically decrease the potential for all oral health problems to become serious. They are also cost-effective compared to paying for expensive major dental works such as tooth replacements, crowns, gum repair, and, most notably, tooth loss.

We have an incredible team at Dartford Road Dental Centre that ensure you have a calm and stress-free visit from reception to surgery.

What does the dentist check that I can’t at home?

• Gum Health – Bleeding gums are a common problem for many patients of Dartford. Deep pockets can develop under the gumline resulting in bad breath, painful and bleeding gums, and swelling that can trap bacteria and make the area difficult to clean.

• Cavities – Cavities develop when plaque (a thin layer of bacteria) eats away at the tooth surface and creates a ‘hole’ in the tooth’s hard outer shell. Early detection of a cavity is easily resolved with a simple filling, but leaving a cavity untreated over some time will lead to the bacteria spreading inside the cavity. This tragic result could lead to the nerve dying and the tooth requiring further treatment such as root canal treatment or even extraction.

• Oral Cancer – Many factors, including smoking and alcohol consumption, can heighten our chances of mouth cancer. We should be checking our tongue and soft tissues regularly for abnormalities, but our experienced dentists know precisely what nasties to look for when examining the oral cavity.

• Dry Mouth – Many medications, especially heart, blood pressure, and depression tablets, can cause a dry mouth, and this can cause several problems for patients. A dry mouth can be due to certain health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, yeast infection (thrush) in your mouth, Alzheimer’s disease, or autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren’s syndrome or HIV/AIDS. Factors including getting older and patients that snore and breathe with an open mouth also can contribute to dry mouth. A dry mouth can be uncomfortable. Due to the lack of saliva, these patients can be more at risk of getting tooth decay.

• X-rays – Your dentist may want to take X-rays at your dental examination. Dentists use X-rays to check for dental decay, asses bone levels and check roots for infection and fractures. X-rays may also be taken on children to view the status of developing teeth.

Can poor oral health affect my overall well-being?

A whiter, brighter smile makes us feel good and significantly impacts how we feel about our mental health. Staining caused by coffee, tea, wine, tobacco, and other products can dramatically affect how we feel about our smiles. Three-quarters of British adults don’t feel confident showing their teeth when they smile for a photo, and a third of these say it’s because of their discoloured and stained teeth.

Your dentist can give you advice at your check-up on how to quit smoking, your diet, and alcohol use.

For support on quitting smoking, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/.

It is also understood that poor oral hygiene is a risk factor for other diseases, such as heart disease and type two diabetes. Untreated gum disease can advance in stages from inflamed gums to tooth loss. High blood glucose levels increase the risk of gum disease progressing from mild to severe. For further information, please visit https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/gum-disease

When we smile, our brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides to help fight off stress. Then other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins come into play too. Endorphins act as mild pain relievers, whereas serotonin is an antidepressant. We should all smile more!

How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?

Both adults and children should visit the dentist regularly. After your initial dental check-up, your dentist will recommend a date for your next visit.

Patients with good oral health and a low sugar diet or at less risk of decay will need to attend only once every 6 – 12 months, but those with more problems will need check-ups more regularly.

Generally, the lower your risk of dental problems, the longer you can wait before your next dental check-up.

As mentioned previously, It is also important to remember that certain types of medication may impact our oral health, too. For instance, patients with dry mouths may be more likely to get tooth decay and will need to visit their dental team more often.

Will the dentist clean my teeth at the check-up?

The dentists’ primary focus during a check-up is to identify any problems rather than to action treatment during this appointment.

Our Kent-based practice is home to an experienced team of four fantastic hygienists who have a huge passion for helping patients reach a level of excellent oral health. Our hygienists have great experience and knowledge in this specific area. They will recommend the best tooth brushing techniques suitable to each individual patient and advise the correct equipment to use, such as tepes and floss. Visit here to find out more about our hygiene appointments.

A check-up is an excellent opportunity for you to discuss a wide range of concerns you may have or to find out more information from your dentists about dental services such as tooth whitening or cosmetic dentistry treatments, including braces and composite bonding.

When should I bring my child to their first check-up?

Your child should have their first check-up when their first milk teeth appear. This is, so they become familiar with the dental practice and the strange smells and surroundings of the dental surgery.

Sitting on the ‘big chair’ and just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practice for the future. We also encourage younger children to attend with their siblings for their dental check-ups to get used to the environment.

Early Intervention

The earlier our dentists can give dental advice to parents and carers, prevent decay, and identify any oral health problems in their children, the better. Prevention is better than cure.

Children who have toothache or who need dental treatment may have pain, infections and difficulties with eating, sleeping and socialising. This is the importance of early detection and regular check-ups.

Find further information at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/

It’s time to prioritise our oral health. If you haven’t seen your dentist in a while, use this article as a reminder and motivation. Book an appointment for your dental care with Dartford Road Dental Centre today.

How do I book?

Booking in for a check-up has never been easier. Simply fill out a form online with your details and select a convenient time that suits you from our diary via Online Booking (dentalhub.online) or call our friendly team on 01322 223 927

Book now: (prompt via Online Booking (dentalhub.online))dental health