If one brushes and flosses daily and uses a spin brush, why pay a dentist twice/yearly for check-ups??? Is this "advisement" a scam by the dental association to make money???
2006-10-20 07:53:04 · 12 answers · asked by apples 3 in Health ➔ Dental
"See your dentist twice a year" was actually made up by Procter and Gamble as part of their ads for Crest toothpaste. This was the first widely-disseminated use of the 6 month recall interval. It just happens to work for most people. There are some who are just fine with a longer interval and I have a handful of patients in my practice who have "graduated" all the way out to a 12 month interval. Maybe 20-25% have to come more often than every 6 months, like 3 or 4 months. This is actually usually their choice, even though the suggestion first comes from me. "You know, Bob, we could do a better job helping you keep your teeth if you came in more often for cleanings." "I was just wondering about that....... What do you think?" And so it goes. I have one lady who insists that she needs her teeth cleaned once a month and guess what. She does. I think she just rinses her mouth at home and leaves the rest to me.
Most insurance plans only pay for two visits per year. Some don't care if you get one cleaning in January and the next in February, but some say it can be no more often than every six months. This is by no means an indication of how often you need your teeth cleaned. It only tells you how often they feel like paying for it.
The final answer is that how often you see the dentist should be individually tailored to suit your needs.
The guy who said he hasn't been in 30 years is unware that he is about to start having periodontal problems worse than his worst nightmare. When he wakes up one day, finding that he has swallowed a tooth in his sleep, he will go to the dentist. Unfortunately, he will find out that periodontal disease is a hidden and usualyl painless process and he will end up losing all of his remaining teeth over the next two to three years. Poor sucker.
2006-10-20 14:46:36 · answer #1 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Brushing and flossing daily is a start.
The reason why you visit your dentist twice a year is because you are only able to brush and floss away plaque (soft and sticky substance). Calculus or tarter build up is a hard substance that sticks to your teeth and is not removable by brushing and flossing. Calculus occurs naturally and there is no way to avoid it. Some people accumulate more than others. ie: certain medications cause more calculus.
It is not a scam and it is important to have a cleaning 2x a year. I am a dental assistant and have seen the results of patients who don't visit the dentist regularly. Most of the time these people end up with periodontal disease (bone loss) not to mention cavities. At these visits you will also have x-rays taken to diagnose any problems you may be having and also an oral exam is done. This is called "preventative maintance".
If you do end up with periodontal disease you will have to go through a scaling and root planing which is when your teeth and roots are cleaned of the debris. It is not pretty and do not recommend having to go through it. You will also be visiting your dentist more frequently for cleanings (every 3-4 months) until you are stabilized.
People believe that dentists are always out to screw them, but the reality is that they want to keep your mouth as healthy as possible so that they don't have to see you for an emergency visit.
Dentists are required by law to diagnose and discuss treatment options with you. If they don't... they are risking a law suit. ie: Say you have 2 cavities and you don't believe the dentist (you think you only have one) and you go for a second opinion. Your dentist is not going to risk his practice for 1 cavity.
2006-10-20 21:03:40 · answer #2 · answered by Ron's wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I floss, brush, rinse off the sweets and visit the dentist twice a year. They get crap off my teeth every time. Insurance pays both visits. They like prevention medicine. If I didnt have insurance I would only go once a year. m
2006-10-20 14:56:51 · answer #3 · answered by Mache 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's good that you brush and floss daily, but the dentist is there to check everything else in your mouth out. You can have cavities for one. He's not there just to clean your teeth. He's there to make sure everything else is ok with your teeth too.
2006-10-20 15:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by bostonchick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say very important for the cleanings. I didnt go for a long time and now I have bone loss and in danger of losing my four front teeth. I am only 34 years old. Go to get cleanings twice a year!!! I also had cavities that went to long and had to have teeth pulled.
2006-10-21 00:28:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is necessary.However,even if a visit my dentist every 6 months she also finds something to be done on my teeth
2006-10-20 14:58:02 · answer #6 · answered by Brenno 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its definately good to go twice a year if you want to keep your teeth! even if you brush/floss daily, you could still get a cavity. better safe then sorry!
2006-10-21 02:12:20 · answer #7 · answered by laura 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think once a year or every two years is fine if you take care of your teeth and your last visit indicated no problems.
2006-10-20 15:55:59 · answer #8 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have insurance you might as well go and get them cleaned. I dont have insurance so i only go if i have problems or every 2 years and my teeth are fine. i take my children in once a year.
2006-10-20 15:02:29 · answer #9 · answered by sea_sher 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's to prevent too much build-up from forming. Plus, if you have dental insurance, it pays for it so why not?
2006-10-20 17:20:24 · answer #10 · answered by justine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋