Most people understand that it’s important to see your dentist regularly to protect your oral health.

But there’s a large percentage (including about 38% of New Yorkers) that don’t make regular dental visits. Here’s why that’s not a good idea.

It’s Expensive

Many people cite cost as a reason why they don’t see their dentist more often. But the truth is that it’s usually more expensive to not see your dentist. That’s because prevention is much cheaper than repair for your teeth.

If you take good care of your teeth at home and supplement this home care with regular dental visits, you’re less likely to develop cavities. And if you do develop cavities, they’re more likely to be detected when they’re small and inexpensive to fix.

But if you’re not seeing your dentist regularly, your cavity may go unnoticed until it starts to hurt. By the time your cavity starts to hurt, it’s going to be fairly large, and it may even be to the point where the tooth is infected and you may need root canal therapy or even to have the tooth extracted. And that can be expensive.

It’s Inconvenient

Another reason why people avoid the dentist is that it’s inconvenient, they say. We understand: everyone is busy, and all our lives are full to the brim with demands on our time. But not going to the dentist until there’s a problem is actually much less convenient.

When you go for preventive care, it’s easy to schedule appointments around your schedule. The appointments are short, and the timing is flexible.

However, if you have a serious dental problem, there’s a lot less flexibility. Your dental appointment is likely to be much longer. And the times available for your appointment are more limited. You may have to see a specialist, which limits your flexibility even more.

On top of that, some dental problems may be disabling. You might not be able to work because of pain or an adverse appearance of your problem tooth. Even if you can work, you won’t be at full productivity. You may lose days out of your schedule.

And that’s really inconvenient.

It Puts Your Health at Risk

But perhaps the most important reason to see your dentist regularly is to protect your health. Of course, this includes your oral health, which includes saving your teeth for a lifetime of beauty and function.

But it also includes your overall health. Preventive dental care can help you avoid some major health problems. Gum disease has been linked to many serious health problems like dementia, heart failure, and stroke. In fact, a recent study showed that people who saw their dentist regularly were about 23% less likely to experience a stroke than those who only saw their dentist when there was a problem.

See Your Dentist Today

Hopefully we’ve convinced you that it’s smarter to see your dentist regularly for preventive care than it is to wait until there’s a problem. If you are overdue for preventive care in Orange County, NY, we’d love to see you. Please call (845) 783-6466 today for an appointment with a dentist at Harriman Family Dental.