You may know that you’re supposed to see your dentist twice a year, but may not be clear on exactly why that is necessary, especially if you don’t think you are having any problems with your oral health.
The American Dental Association reports that 100 million Americans don’t see any dentist even once a year, though for many this is because of a fear of pain, due to childhood experiences. What they don’t realize is that modern dentistry can be virtually painless, due to the wide variety of anesthetics and ways to manage pain available today. If dental issues are neglected, a lot of pain will not only be the result, but the damage done (of which the pain is just a symptom) can be permanent. Prevention is always best.
To that end, it is vital that you come in for a full exam twice a year at Studio Dental by Alexander Ash DDS, where we have both the latest technology and most experienced experts in a wide range of dental specialties.
The best-known reason to visit, as we all know from childhood, is to check for cavities, aka dental caries, which is second to only the common cold among diseases. If they are not removed and filled-in early in their development, they can cause a lot of pain. There is also an opportunity to replace old fillings, often made of inferior silver amalgam material, before they become loose, either with gold (which can last 20 years), dental porcelain (which looks like natural teeth and is very durable), or the least expensive, composite resin, which can be shaded like your teeth (this lasts 3-10 years, but stains easily if you don’t brush right after drinking coffee or tea or smoking).
The second reason is to have a thorough dental exam, including a digital x-ray, which is the only way to discover if there has been any loss of the jawbone due to periodontal infection, which would need to be dealt with ASAP to prevent the ultimate loss of many teeth.
Third, it is important to have a professional cleaning of the gums and teeth by your dental hygienist twice a year. They have the tools and techniques to keep oral bacteria from thriving in the gums and undermining not only the stability of your teeth, but spreading throughout your body, raising your risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Fourth, in Los Angeles especially, having a beautiful smile is important for confidence in our business and personal lives. Cosmetic dentistry has a wide range of options to realize that, from taking off eight shades of discoloration during just one hour in the dental chair for a more gleaming smile to Invisalign clear trays that can gently straighten even the most crooked set of teeth.
Call our Los Angeles dental team today to set an appointment for a full examination and to discuss your options for a healthier, more attractive smile.
By Alexander Ash, DDS
Dr. Ash is the founder of Studio Dental Care. He earned his Doctorate at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, followed by two General Residencies at New York-Presbyterian / Weill-Cornell Hospital and the UCLA Sepulveda VA Hospital.