PATIENT INFORMATION
Regular dental/hygiene visits
On average, seeing your dental professional for a cleaning and check-up twice a year works well for most people. Regular visits allow your dentist to find early signs of disease and treat these problems at a manageable stage. People with a high risk of dental disease may need to visit more frequently –
- SMOKERS
- DIABETICS
- PEOPLE WITH CURRENT GUM DISEASE
- PEOPLE WITH A WEAK IMMUNE RESPONSE TO BACTERIAL INFECTION
- PEOPLE WHO TEND TO GET CAVITIES OR BUILD UP PLAQUE
sometimes every three to four months, or more. This high-risk group includes:
Your dental needs change over the course of your lifetime. In times of stress or illness, you may need to see the dentist/hygienist more often than usual. The dentist may help you to fight off a temporary infection or treat changes in your mouth. Ask your dentist about the best schedule for your routine dental visits.
Taking your child to the dentist for the first time
It’s important to get an early start on dental care, so that your child will learn that visiting the dentist is a regular part of health care. CDA encourages the assessment of infants, by a dentist, within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by one year of age.
It’s important to make the first visit a positive experience for your child – one reason why it’s best to visit before a problem develops. If you think there is a problem, however, take your child to the dentist right away, no matter what age. If you are a nervous dental patient, ask your spouse or another family member to take the child for the appointment. If your child senses that you are nervous, he or she may feel nervous too. When you talk to your child about going to the dentist, explain what will happen without adding things like “it won’t hurt” or “don’t be scared.
Be sure to get an early start on regular dental care at home. Start cleaning your child’s mouth with a soft damp cloth before teeth come in and continue with a soft toothbrush once he or she has a first tooth. Limit the number of sugary treats you give your child, and focus on healthy food choices from the very beginning.
