Why You Should Make Regular Visits to Your Dentist in Phillipsburg

You’re on your way to your dental visit, and it’s been a while since your last one. You’re not worried though, you haven’t felt any mouth pain or issues, so you’re expecting to walk out without needing nay treatment. That is, until about halfway through your exam, your dentist tells you “You have a cavity that needs to be filled.” You’re completely caught off guard.

“How could this have happened?” You wonder. As it turns out, problems can still arise without you knowing because tooth decay and gum disease don’t hurt at first. Your dentist in Phillipsburg explains why this happens.

Dental Problems Don’t Hurt Until It’s Too Late

When it comes to tooth decay, you won’t notice there’s a problem until it’s already done substantial damage. This is because your tooth’s nerves are underneath your enamel inside your inner tooth. This pulp is filled with nerves, and only once bacteria reaches it will you feel significant pain. What’s even worse is that treating it will be far more difficult.

This also goes for gum disease, which is comply referred to as the “silent killer.” Not only is this because of its link to much more serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers, but also because its symptoms are not very noticeable until it gets severe. By the time you feel pain and tenderness in your gums, you’ve most likely contracted periodontitis, a more moderate form of gum disease.

Waiting to Get Treatment Makes the Problems Worse

The longer you wait to get tooth decay treated, the more significant the treatment will need to be to get it fixed. Therefore, your dentist in Phillipsburg is constantly stressing the importance of preventive care rather than treatment to fix problems when they arise.

Think of it like this. According to a report from Cigna titled Improved Health and Lower Medical Costs – Why Good Dental Care is Important, every dollar spent on preventive dental care could save $8 to $50 on restorative and emergency treatments. That means money spent on preventive care is worth more than money spent on root canals, tooth extractions, and crown placements.

The Best Way to Avoid Problems in the Future

Besides brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing daily, one of the best ways to practice preventive care is to visit your Phillipsburg dentist every six months. Not only can they provide a professional cleaning, but they’ll also give you a thorough examination, diagnose any problems you have, and treat them effectively before they get worse.

One of the worst things you can do is skip your dental visits, so make it a habit to visit twice a year! Schedule an appointment today to learn more and take the steps to practicing preventive care.

About the Author

Dr. Jeffrey DeMartino’s office is fully-equipped to find the earliest signs of decay before they turn into cavities. After attending the International Clinical Laser Institute for five years to further his laser dental training and eventually, his practice was eventually chosen to be a hard tissue laser training facility for other aspiring laser dentists. To learn more about his preventive treatments and practice, contact him at (908) 859-5260 or visit his website.