Our dentists and team members in Millersville, Maryland always encourage patients to following the six month rule. It’s simple, visit our team every six months for dental exams and teeth cleanings. Then, take care of your smile at home with daily tooth brushing, flossing, and mouth rinse. This is the key to maintaining optimal oral health for every patient. Keep reading to find out more about the invaluable benefits of six month dental checkups and teeth cleaning with our Millersville dentist and team.
1 – Decreased Risk for Oral Health Concerns & Dental Emergencies
The main reason we recommend patients keep up with their biannual dental exams is that these visits reduce your risk for oral concerns, like tooth decay and gum disease, and they help you avoid dental emergencies. According to a 2015 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27% of people over the age of 20 in the US had untreated tooth decay. In 2013, 2 million people visited a medical emergency room for dental health concerns. Visiting our office regularly means you can minimize tooth decay and dental emergencies while receiving conservative treatments in the earliest possible stages.
2 – Minimize Out of Pocket Costs
Since 1996, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey has tracked the many 
reasons people do not visit the dentist to maintain their healthy, natural smiles. Cost is the number one reason patients give for skipping six month dental checkups. Insurance is one way that people are able to offset the out of pocket costs of dental care. Unfortunately, access to dental insurance is not always possible. For every person without medical insurance, three don’t have dental insurance. It is a serious concern in the US!
Whether or not you have dental insurance coverage, visiting our office for regular six month dental exams and maintaining a thorough at-home regimen are still the easiest ways to minimize the out of pocket costs of dental treatment. If you do have dental insurance, your provider will likely offer 80 to 100% coverage for the cost of regular preventive exams and teeth cleanings. If you don’t have dental insurance, preventive care is still worth the investment. Studies show that for every dollar people spend on preventive care, they save an average of $8 on restorative treatment and $50 on emergency dental care.
3 – Oral Health is linked to overall Health and Well Being
Recent research has found that the bacteria that lives in your mouth can travel throughout the body. Cavities, nerve abscesses, and gum disease have been linked to heart attacks, strokes, uncontrolled diabetes, preterm deliveries in pregnant women, and other serious issues. Large cavities and abscesses often hurt and give an indicator that something is wrong. However, gum disease and small cavities do not cause any pain. Routine check ups help maintain not just oral health but encourage overall well being. For some patients with a genetic predisposition to gum disease, it is necessary to have cleanings more than two times a year to maintain health. The appropriate recall for you will be determined with your dental team.
Meet the McCarl Dental Group
At McCarl Dental Group, our team of dentists and hygienists take the time we need during six month dental exams and teeth cleanings to help our patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health and keep it for a lifetime. Sticking to the six month rule means you are less likely to struggle with oral health issues. In six months, a cavity can form, gum disease can develop, and a number of other issues may arise. During these visits, we’ll capture diagnostic images that allow us to spot oral health concerns in earlier stages. This means we are able to offer the most conservative treatments. Once a year, we will take bitewing x-rays that show us interproximal (between teeth) images, so we can diagnose and treat tooth decay in areas that we can’t see with the naked eye. We’ll also chart the depths of pockets between the teeth and gums to screen for the earliest warning signs of periodontal gum disease. Call to learn more or schedule an appointment with our Millersville dentist and dental care team.