• How Much Dentistry DO YOU REALLY NEED?

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By Dr. Declan Devereux
Many people only go to the dentist when something hurts while others go every 6 months for cleaning and a check up. In this article I want to give you advice that can help you decide how often to go and what needs to be fixed.

When it comes to how often to go to the dentist it depends on two main factors which are;

1. how well you clean your own teeth in between visits
   
2. genetics (do you have a tendency toward dental problems).

If you brush and foss 2X a day and have good genetics then seeing the dentist 1X a year for cleaning and check up is likely enough. If you brush 2X a day but aren't perfect with #ossing and have average genetics then you should get cleaning and check up 2X a year. Lastly if your home care isn't so good or especially if you have a strong tendency toward gum problems then 3-4X a year would be smart.

Now what about the dentistry part. All dentists agree if you have pain, infections (which includes tooth decay), or fractured teeth then all of these conditions need attention from a dentist. On the other hand what if you go for a cleaning and check up and you don't have any of these problems.

At this point you may elect to have dental care to straighten teeth, make them look better, or prevent a future problem but all of this is up to you. If you have a lot of existing dental care that is in stable condition our usual advice is to leave it alone and monitor it since we can't accurately determine how long it will last.

This recommendation would change if a way to regrow your teeth to their original form is developed in which case we would recommend to remove all existing dental work and regrow your tooth since a natural tooth is by far the best thing to have. Until this day comes our advice is to get your teeth cleaned and checked as recommended and closely monitor them to keep everything healthy.

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