While gum disease is common, it can lead to serious dental health problems. If you do not receive treatment, you can develop an oral infection, tooth loss, or deterioration of the jawbone. Protect your mouth and avoid several other harmful diseases by keeping your biannual exam appointments at the dentist’s office. Learn more here about what to expect during your visit and how your cosmetic dentistry provider prevents the need for gum surgery and tooth extraction.

Guide to Twice-Yearly Exams for Gum Disease Prevention

What Is a Biannual Exam?

A biannual exam is a checkup designed to check the effectiveness of your daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing routine. Your dentist will also perform a tooth cleaning and polishing treatment to remove tartar and plaque buildup. After this process is complete, your provider will give you a visual inspection. They will check your mouth for gum swelling and redness as well as other conditions like cavities, temporomandibular joint disorder — TMJ — and oral cancer.

What Are the Benefits?

If you are not brushing, flossing, or rinsing properly, your provider will recommend techniques to reduce your risk of gum issues. Regular cleanings will decrease the chances that tartar and plaque will create pockets between the teeth and gums. The development of these gaps breeds harmful bacteria, which contribute to gum, tooth, and jaw problems.

Should your dentist discover gum inflammation or cavities in their earliest stages, they can take care of your symptoms before they become worse. A check of your jaw, throat, and mouth helps your doctor decide if further treatment or tests are necessary. Treatment for oral cancer is more successful with early detection. Care strategies for TMJ, such as mouth guards and oral splints, will reduce pain, improve jaw function, and decrease habits like teeth clenching and grinding.

Seeing your dental provider often will help prevent gum inflammation and infection and reduce your chances of needing costly treatments. Cosmetic dentistry professional Brian Perelmuter, DMD, P.C., in Naugatuck, CT, has over 20 years of experience helping patients of all ages maintain excellent oral health. To make a biannual exam appointment to help you avoid gum disease, call his office at (203) 729-3323. For information about his services — including same-day emergency care, root canal treatment, and tooth whitening — visit his website. Discover helpful oral hygiene tips for children and adults by following him on Facebook.