There are many excellent reasons for visiting your dentist, and preventing the worsening of dental diseases is among the most important. From gum disease to cavities, dental diseases have the characteristic of getting much worse if not treated early. Plus, most people may not even realize they’re developing a later stage of periodontitis until it’s too late and teeth have to be removed. Learn more about why prevention is key when it comes to a healthy smile.
Preventing Dental Diseases at Smile! Dental Center
By simply keeping up with your biannual dental appointments you can prevent a wide range of diseases. Plus, if your dentist happens to find a disease, you can begin treatment early when it’s most effective. Some of the dental problems that can be detected and prevented during a basic dental exam include:
- Gum Disease
- Oral Cancer
- Tooth Decay
- Cavities
- Bruxism (Grinding the teeth)
- TMJ Disorders
- Sleep Apnea
All of those listed conditions have something in common: They’re a lot easier to treat if they’re caught early. Since Dr. Foust inspects patients’ mouths in every appointment, keeping up with your biannual dental visits should be enough to detect any problems.
In-depth Example: The 3 Stages of Gum Disease
A perfect example to illustrate why preventative care is so vital is to look at the three stages of gum disease. Notice how each stage gets exponentially worse and requires more severe forms of treatment.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
You’ve probably seen the ads warning viewers of the horrors of gingivitis. Although gingivitis is by no means a comfortable condition, it is easily treatable with a type of thorough dental cleaning known as scaling and root planing. Gingivitis is characterized by red, inflamed gums, but won’t cause you to lose teeth if caught at this early stage.
Stage 2: Periodontitis
If someone who has gingivitis skips their dental appointment and continues neglecting their oral health, periodontitis is the next stage of gum disease. The difference is that the tissues that hold your teeth in place have suffered irreparable damage with periodontitis. Bleeding may occur in the gums and treating periodontitis can be a lot more complicated and expensive than a simple dental cleaning. With periodontitis, your teeth are loosening and on the verge of falling out.
Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis
When periodontitis is neglected, the next phase is advanced periodontitis. Patients with advanced periodontitis may lose teeth because their roots and connective tissues have been severely damaged. Unlike earlier stages of gum disease, advanced periodontitis is likely to involve one or more surgeries such as gum grafts followed by a long path to recovery.
Understanding the Need to Prevent Gum Disease
Like most dental conditions, gum disease is easy to treat when found early and much more difficult to manage if caught later on. When patients come in for their regular appointments every six months, it’s likely that we’ll be able to detect their gum disease in an early stage. As a result, treatment will be a lot quicker and more affordable. This makes preventative care extremely beneficial for patients since it saves time, money, and the need for more invasive treatments.
Visit Smile Dental Center to Keep Your Smile Healthy and Strong
Patient comfort and convenience are priorities at our dental office in Gibsonia, PA. We take pride in ensuring patients of their clean bill of oral health, or in recommending an ideal treatment plan when necessary. By simply attending your regularly scheduled dental appointments, you can prevent a wide range of diseases and problems. Contact Dr. Foust to plan your next dental appointment with our Gibsonia dental team.
