You Should Have Routine Dental Exams: Here's Why

It’s hard to overstate the importance of healthy teeth and gums — after all, they power your ability to eat, talk, and even smile. While your efforts to support your oral health at home are paramount, so are our efforts here. And these efforts start with your all-important dental exam.

At Hillsdale Dental Care, Drs. Roge Jacob and Magdalena Azzarelli, along with our highly skilled dental team, provide comprehensive oral care for the entire family — from four-year-olds on up to the most senior member. At the heart of our care are your routine dental exams and cleanings, which allow us to stay one step ahead of your dental health.

Here’s a look at why dental exams are so important and how often you should visit us.

Tooth decay — a major threat

One of the primary reasons why we want to see you for regular dental exams is so we can stop tooth decay in its tracks. Tooth decay is one of the leading contributors to tooth loss, and our goal is to preserve your family’s teeth long into the future.

To give you an idea about the scope of this problem, let’s take a look at some eye-opening statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about dental caries (tooth decay):

• More than half of kids between ages 6 and 8 have a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth
• More than half of teens between 12 and 19 have a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth
• More than one-quarter of adults have untreated tooth decay

During your dental exam, we can identify tooth decay through X-rays and quickly clear away the decay and restore your tooth with a filling.

Gum disease — also a major threat

While tooth decay is one of the primary drivers of tooth loss, so is gum disease. The CDC reports that nearly half of adults aged 30 years and older have some degree of gum disease, or periodontitis.

Gum disease is progressive, and the sooner we can get in and clear up the problem, the better. In fact, during its early stages, called gingivitis, a good cleaning is all it takes to clear away the bacteria and to restore health to your gums.

Tracking dental health issues in children

Another reason why regular dental exams are important is that we can track common dental issues in children, including misalignments, impacted wisdom teeth, and any other problem that may crop up as kids transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth.

Keeping it clean

The care you provide at home through brushing, flossing, and rinsing are imperative for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but regular professional cleanings can really seal these efforts. 

Despite your best care, plaque and tartar can still build up though. At your dental cleanings, we can scrape away these buildups, especially in hard-to-reach places, ensuring that decay and gum disease don’t have a chance to take hold.

Not to mention, we also polish your teeth and remove stains during these dental cleanings, giving you a whiter, brighter smile.

How often should I come in?

We recommend that you come see us twice a year for dental cleanings and once a year for a dental exam. We combine one of your cleanings with a dental exam, during which we can take X-rays and also perform an oral cancer screening.

To get started, simply contact our office in San Jose, California, to schedule your dental exam.