Do you remember when the last time you visited the dentist was? Was it 6-months ago or so, as the recommendations of dentists across the globe? A year ago? More than a year? More than 5-years? Over a decade? Longer still?! If you have to think hard about the last time you went to the dentist, you know you are long overdue. It’s more common than you might think. Many people wind up going years without a dental checkup, only returning to the dentist when there is a major problem. If you have severe tooth pain and have trouble eating and sleeping, you more than likely haven’t gone to the dentist in quite a while.
Have No Fear!
Dentists are very used to first-time patients coming in who haven’t been to the dentist in 5 or 10 years or longer. Because it is so common, a good dentist will have a game plan in mind to get you quickly back on track and keep your teeth and gums healthy. But delaying any further will not be doing you any favors. Dentists and dental hygienists can spot all the tell-tale signs of cavities, cracks, gum disease, and even certain types of oral cancer. But to do so, they need to see you in the dental chair.
If you are experiencing oral pain it means something has been happening for quite a while. Cavities do not form overnight and a cavity that rots into the tooth root causing severe pain takes even longer. The moral of the story here is that the longer you wait to see your dentist the more problems you will likely develop.
Preventative Dentistry Makes All the Difference
People often say things like, “my teeth are fine, I brush and floss twice a day and eat pretty healthy. I don’t need to go to the dentist.” That may be true for some people without a genetic predisposition to tooth decay and gum disease, but most western diets do damage to teeth regardless of your dental hygiene habits. Your home oral care regimen is important to your overall oral health, but going in for regular preventative dentistry is what makes the difference throughout your life.
As we age and we eat and drink foods, acids and sugars wear down tooth enamel regardless of your brushing habits. Alcohol and high-sugar drinks make up the worst culprits for mouth acidity, stains, and cavities. Left untreated a small cavity can turn into a major problem and a painful one at that. A rotten tooth has limited treatment options:
- Cavity Filling
- Root Canal
- Tooth Extraction
If a tooth is already rotten to the root, you have no choice but to do a root canal and add a crown or remove the tooth entirely. These procedures cost a lot more than a normal cleaning visit and can be prevented with good oral hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist. Consider this, a dental implant following a tooth extraction costs as much as several years worth of seeing the dentist every 6 months. You can choose to visit the dentist regularly now or face major complications and oral pain later in life.
Get back On Track Today
Getting back to the Dentist in Coney Island NY should not be scary, expensive, or time-consuming. A few searches online can show you a multitude of different dentists here in southern Kings County, but knowing which one to go to might seem daunting. Look for experience, happy patients, and fair pricing with or without insurance, like right here at Coney Island Dental. We have proudly served the area for over 40 years and help over 4,000 patients a year keep their teeth healthy. Give us a call and let’s schedule your first-time or returning patient appointment today.