Seeing a dentist can sometimes cause fear and trepidation for many people. However, tooth and mouth issues can get much worse over time when you neglect your semi-annual dental appointments. In fact, every year there are roughly 3200 Canadians diagnosed with oral cancer. Though this may sound like an extreme case, it’s vital to visit the dentist consistently to stay on the lookout for cancer, issues with temporomandibular joints, cosmetic imperfections, and a myriad of other common dental problems.
There are quite a few reasons to visit the dentist regularly. Here are just a few to consider.
The Possibility of Oral Cancer
Though oral cancer is commonly thought of as a disease that only impacts smokers, improper or infrequent dentistry can also cause oral cancer to be overlooked and worsen quickly. However, if caught quickly by a dentist, oral cancer has a very high survival rate.
Temporomandibular Disorders
Like oral cancer, TMD / TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorders can happen to anyone. The majority of people who suffer from TMJ do not know even know it because one of the most common symptoms is frequent headaches.
Though TMJ disorders can be much less detrimental and are less commonly known than oral cancer, TMJ pain can still be serious business as it affects your day-to-day activities and quality of life. Some signs of TMJ include: frequent headaches, painful or trouble with chewing, facial tenderness and pain, and jaw locking. Temporomandibular joints are found on both sides of the jaw, so both or only one side may be impacted. Dentists can easily make TMJ disorders more comfortable for you in the day-to-day and help to improve the disorder over time.
Cosmetic Needs and Wants
Even though gum disease, oral cancer, and TMJ disorders are at the top of the list for dental concerns, many people may want to consider visiting a dentist for cosmetic reasons as well.
Dental implants and porcelain veneers are an easy way to give you the smile that you always dreamt of growing up. Outside of orthodontic work, this may be an option worth considering.
Whether you’re looking to straighten your smile with braces, get dental implants to replace your missing tooth, make your teeth brighter with teeth whitening, or have other cosmetic dentistry in mind, experts at a dental clinic can help you decide on the right time to update your smile.