Why You Need To See A Dentist

If you avoid going to the dentist, you are certainly not alone. About 35% of Americans have been known to skip out on their routine dental checkups. Some of the most common reasons people don't like going to the dentist include having a fear of dental instruments, a fear of needing dental work done, bad memories of going to the dentist, and being too busy to schedule an appointment. Others don't go because they are embarrassed about how long it's been since their last checkup.

Some people also struggle with something called dental anxiety. This is a genuine type of anxiety where people actually lose sleep over having to go to the dentist. Dental anxiety is more common with older people who may have had a bad experience at the dentist, or they experienced pain during a dental procedure due to the lack of technology that nearly all dentists have access to today.

Thankfully, there are many things a dentist can do to make your dental experience a gentle and pain-free one. Some of these things include using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and a local anesthetic. Most dentists also have comfy chairs and calming music. Others allow you to watch television while you get work done on your teeth, which can help to distract you from what is going on inside your mouth.

The Importance of Dental Checkups

When you don't get your teeth checked on a regular basis, what starts out as a small problem that's easy to fix, can become a very big problem. One example of this would be having a cavity. When left untreated, cavities can turn into root canals, which are more painful and more expensive to fix.

Another reason to go to your checkups is so that certain oral health conditions can be found early on, which makes them much easier to treat. Besides just checking for cavities during a routine dental checkup, dentists will also check for gum disease and oral cancer.

There are also some other diseases that a dentist might be able to detect by examining the soft tissue inside your mouth. Some of these diseases include:

• Crohn's Disease
• Osteoporis
• Heart disease
• Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)

One of the best reasons to keep up with dental checkups is that it will most likely save you money down the road. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are relatively inexpensive, and the longer you can keep your teeth and gums healthy, the better your chances of having good oral health. Contact a dentist, like John B Webster DDS, for more help.