3 Potential Repercussions For Skipping a Dental Cleaning

You’ve had your dental visit planned for a few months now but suddenly, you discover that something else is vying for your attention and time. You know you shouldn’t reschedule, but it’s no big deal. After all, you’ll see your dentist in another few months anyway, right? Unfortunately, this mindset can spell disaster for you later on. Keep reading to learn about 3 potential repercussions that can occur should you choose to skip your dental cleaning.

You Run the Risk of More Serious Oral Health Issues Forming

Early detection is key when it comes to treating common oral health problems like dental decay and gum disease. By catching these problems at the start (or before they start), you not only avoid restorative care that can be invasive, but you also keep more money in your pocket.

Unfortunately, when too much time passes, bacteria continue to spread, causing more serious symptoms and eventually, more extensive treatment.

By keeping your regular dental checkups and teeth cleaning appointments, you can take better care of your smile and avoid back-and-forth trips to the dentist’s office for restorative and/or emergency services.

You Risk Losing Valuable Money

If you have dental insurance, part of your available benefits includes two dental checkups and teeth cleanings each year. As preventive services, your insurer likely agrees to cover these visits at 80-100%, which means you don’t have to worry about paying anything out of pocket.

However, if you choose to forgo these visits, you not only put your oral and overall health at risk, but you lose out on the valuable savings you can expect to receive with your dental insurance plan.

Each month, you agree to pay a monthly premium so that you can get access to your available benefits, but if you decide to not use them, you’re only taking this money and throwing it away.

You Put Yourself in Danger of Tooth Loss

Whether the state of your smile is something that is causing you pain or not, neglecting your regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings will put you closer to the reality of living without a full set of teeth.

Gum disease and severe dental decay can weaken teeth to the point that they no longer stay in place, or they become so badly damaged that they must be extracted. Regular trips to the dentist’s office can usually catch these issues before they become too serious; however, when you forgo seeing a dental professional for regular care, you continue to put your smile in danger.

If left untreated, you may find that you are without one or more teeth and require invasive restorative care to replace your smile.

Your dentist understands that life can get busy at times; however, if you want to keep your oral and overall health in the best shape throughout the year, don’t skip out on your dental visits. Keeping these appointments will lead to a healthier, dazzling smile that you can be proud of.

About the Author
Dr. J. Peter St. Clair has been practicing dentistry since 1995. With decades of experience and a passion for helping others, he leads the team at his Rowley, MA, dental office and delivers top-quality, first-rate care to individuals in need. Whether it is a simple dental checkup and teeth cleaning that a person requires or the replacement of one or more teeth with dental implants, he delivers exceptional results using only the best in dental technology. Visit our website or call (978) 903-3053 to find out more about how we can help you.