How often should I go to the dentist?

April 23, 2022

A regular visit to the dentist is one of the important preventive measures. Through regular check-ups, many diseases of the teeth and oral cavity can be detected in the early stages and thus treated in time. In addition, you will receive important tips about your general oral care, so that you benefit in many ways. But how often should you actually go to the doctor? We will get to the bottom of this question in the following.

Children up to 6 years

It is ideal if you get your child used to the dentist as early as possible so that he or she associates the visit with positive associations and realises that going to the dentist is not associated with fear. This builds trust and lays a foundation for beautiful and healthy teeth. At the dentist in Essen, for example, you are offered a wide range of services. Children are also welcome here. Until they are six years old, prophylaxis should take place around every six months. The first proper examination only needs to take place when all milk teeth have broken through, which is around the age of three.

6 to 18 years

From the age of six, individual prophylaxis begins, which requires about two visits per year. At these appointments, the dentist checks the hygiene of the mouth and gives advice on how to avoid caries. But other diseases of the oral cavity as well as the jaw are also analysed and treated.

Adults from 18 years

From the age of 18, an annual check-up with the dentist can be recommended. This way, damage to the tooth can be detected and treated at an early stage. In addition, tartar should be removed once a year, which is also a benefit of the statutory health insurance. You can get a thorough cleaning of the tooth surfaces by having your teeth professionally cleaned, which can be done once or twice a year and helps to keep your teeth healthy for a long time.

Save money with regular dental visits

Many health insurance companies offer bonus books in which it is noted when a check-up at the dentist has taken place. If you have them stamped regularly, you get a subsidy from your health insurance or money back at the end of the year. So a visit to the dentist can also be worthwhile financially.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of professional teeth cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is the most common reason for many people to visit the dentist. This is also offered by your dentist in Essen. The aim is to prevent tooth decay or gingivitis. Professional teeth cleaning means removing plaque, i.e. bacterial plaque, from all the teeth. The bacteria can attack the teeth and gums and promote tooth decay or inflammation of the gums. Gum inflammation can even develop into periodontitis. In this case, the inflammation spreads to the tooth bed as well as the bone. You can sometimes feel the plaque with your tongue, and the surface of your teeth will feel rough or furry. If the plaque is not removed regularly, it becomes tartar.

The plaque then hardens and can only be removed in a dental practice. During a professional dental cleaning, soft and hard plaque is removed as well as tooth discolouration caused by tea, coffee or smoking. However, the benefits of professional teeth cleaning have not been proven by reliable studies and it is not always a standard benefit of the statutory health insurance, but often has to be paid for by the patient. However, many health insurance companies contribute subsidies.

What role does professional tooth cleaning play in periodontitis?

In order for periodontitis to be treated, the existing tartar must be removed and good oral hygiene must be guaranteed. Before the actual treatment, a mixture of professional tooth cleaning and oral hygiene training is therefore carried out. In this way, even particularly severe inflammations can be contained. Whether professional tooth cleaning has a favourable effect on periodontitis is another question for which there are no reliable studies. However, it can definitely do no harm.

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