Whenever you have a local dentist there are many benefits. A few would be that instead of going to a random clinic when something goes wrong if you are established at a regular clinic then you are more like to be able to set up a payment plan if needed. You are able to also make sure your insurance will cover the things that you will be needing to be done when you visit your dentist. Some dentist will offer 24 hour assistance which is great if you have kids. Kids are able to get into many things and at the worst times possible. If something happened at odd hours and your dentist offered 24 hour assistance, that would be very important for you. Also whether you would like a dentist that will offer sedation services. This is very important to some people.
What a Dentist Can Do For Your Health
A dentist can prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay can easily happen because every day, a thin film of bacteria called dental plaque builds up on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque makes acids that can harm enamel and cause cavities. Brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent decay, but once a cavity forms, a dentist has to fix it. They can prevent gum disease. Gum disease can begin when plaque builds up along and under your gum line. This plaque can cause infections that hurt the gum and bone that hold your teeth in their place. Gum disease can make your gums tender and more likely to bleed. This problem, called gingivitis, can often be fixed by brushing and flossing every day. They are able to help with dry mouth which is common. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth moist.
It can make it harder to eat, swallow, taste, or even speak. Dry mouth can make tooth decay and other infections of the mouth come about quicker. One huge thing dentist can help prevent is oral cancer. Cancer of the mouth can grow in any part of the mouth or throat. It is more likely to happen in people over age 40. A dental checkup is a great time for your dentist to look for signs of oral cancer. Treatment works best before the disease spreads.