What Are the Oral Health Risks of Skipping Routine Dental Visits?

Taking care of your teeth includes prevention, such as watching what you eat, brushing and flossing, and seeing your dentist every six months. 

If you’re one of the almost 65% of Americans who have been to your dentist within the past year, and you follow the recommended guidelines for brushing and flossing, you might be thinking you can skip your next appointment.

However, missing appointments can impact your oral health. In this blog, we explain why you should always attend every checkup. 

Residents of the Richmond Hill, Georgia, area who have missed their appointments can schedule visits with Dr. Nils Anderson and our skilled team at Village Dental to maintain their dental health.

Dental visit basics

Expect these steps at your dental visit:

• Examination: We’ll check your teeth, gums, and mouth for evidence of disease, infection, or other issues

• Imaging: X-rays or 3D imaging help spot issues early on

• Cleaning: Our specialized tools get your teeth cleaner than brushing and flossing

Routine checkups are the best way to stay ahead of potential issues.

Dental appointment schedule

General guidelines recommend scheduling a dental checkup at least twice a year. However, the frequency we recommend depends on your dental habits, family history of dental problems, lifestyle and dietary choices, and access to proper dental care. 

These issues play a role in the health of your teeth and may shift your checkup schedule as needed.

Risks of missing dental visits

Obviously, missing appointments allows oral health issues to worsen and lead to complications, including: 

Progression of underlying conditions

Even when you’re keeping up with daily dental maintenance, particles of food, bits of bacteria, and other materials can lurk in areas you’re not able to reach and cause dental disease.

Increased risks of periodontitis (gum disease)

If you develop gum disease and it’s not treated, it can lead to infections in the bloodstream that can spread throughout the body.

The domino effect of not treating minor issues

When minor issues are ignored due to missed dental visits, they can develop into bigger problems requiring more dental work. For example, if you have a missing tooth, misalignment issues can cause problems for other teeth. Untreated gum disease can also weaken your jawbone, leading to more tooth loss and other issues.

Combining optimal dental hygiene, a healthy diet, and routine checkups with our team improves your dental health, so always make an effort to make your appointments. If you’re ready to schedule a dental appointment, contact Dr. Anderson and Village Dental today.