Visiting the dentist regularly is just as important as visiting your doctor regularly. Your oral health is crucial to your overall well-being — not to mention your beautiful smile.
To achieve and maintain good oral health, you need regular dental screenings and exams. Here at Vida Dental Spa in New York City, Dr. Maria Ioannou stresses the importance of these visits to our patients.
Dr. Ioannou has years of experience as a general and cosmetic dentist. She offers modern treatments for various dental issues, such as cavities and discolored teeth, and screens for dental problems that can seriously impact your overall health.
What is a dental screening?
Dental exams and screenings are tools our team uses to check your mouth and teeth for problems. During your visit, our hygienists and Dr. Ioannou clean and inspect your teeth.
Dr. Ioannou may take X-rays of your mouth and jaw to assess the health of your jawbone or tooth roots. She checks for signs of tooth decay or gum disease.
She asks you about any problems you’ve had with your teeth, such as pain or sensitivity. Dr. Ioannou also looks for any tissue abnormalities that could indicate cancer.
If Dr. Ioannou finds any issues, she discusses treatment options with you. These may include filling a cavity or performing a root canal.
To help avoid such issues, our team also discusses the preventive power of good oral hygiene: brushing, flossing, and scheduling regular dental exams.
Regular dental exams — why they’re important
Seeing Dr. Ioannou every six months is crucial to your overall dental health. But why every six months?
Your teeth aren’t only crucial for how you look when you smile — they’re also vital for speaking and chewing. Your teeth are exposed to bacteria every day, and that bacteria can turn to plaque and damage the enamel on your teeth.
Regular dental exams allow Dr. Ioannou to catch problems early on. The earlier she finds decay or gum disease, the more manageable the situation becomes.
A cavity can creep up on you without you knowing it. The decay might not cause pain or sensitivity until the cavity is large. With early detection, Dr. Ioannou can fix the problem before it damages more of your tooth.
If your gums are swollen or bleed easily, Dr. Ioannou may want to see you more often. Gum disease that progresses to a more severe stage, periodontitis, can lead to infection and tooth loss.
Consequences of poor dental hygiene
Even if you’re consistent with your brushing and flossing regimen, issues can still arise if you don’t attend regular dental appointments. These issues include:
- Cavities
- Sensitive teeth
- Gum disease
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Infections
- Oral cancers
In severe cases, poor oral hygiene can contribute to heart problems like endocarditis, inflammation in the lining of the heart’s valves and chambers.
To schedule your dental screening and exam, call our office in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens, New York, or request a consultation. Telehealth appointments with Dr. Ioannou are also available.