You Should See A Dentist Early, But How Early?

As a general dentist, I see patients that range in age from 1-100 years old. Patients are assessed and screened for different things based on their age. The earlier we see a patient the better. It is quite common to have bite discrepancies, jaw growth discrepancies, as well as missing permanent teeth. There can be habits that have changed the growth of the jaw, as well as problems with the TMJ (jaw joint). There can also be medication induced damage as well as a past history of medical issues, as simple as a high fever, that can effect your teeth. If these items are found and diagnosed early, proper plans can be put in place to make the treatment palatable and predictable. The longer you wait to be seen, the more involved it may be to correct or repair the issue. In some cases we will not have a solution. One example is a child can be diagnosed with missing permanent teeth very early in their life. A plan can be put together to properly maintain the primary (baby) teeth for many years. The assumption is that all patients will lose these teeth, but that is not so. A dentist can monitor their growth and the teeth around them to assure the patient does not lose them. Primary teeth can remain for a lifetime if the patient is seen early and monitored closely. This will save time and treatment for the patient, and significant cost savings can be realized. So, the moral of the story is, be seen early in life by the dentist, and at least twice a year. As a general dentist, I see patients that range in age from 1-100 years old. Patients are assessed and screened for different things based on their age. The earlier we see a patient the better. It is quite common to have bite discrepancies, jaw growth discrepancies, as well as missing permanent teeth. There can be habits that have changed the growth of the jaw, as well as problems with the TMJ (jaw joint). There can also be medication induced damage as well as a past history of medical issues, as simple as a high fever, that can effect your teeth. If these items are found and diagnosed early, proper plans can be put in place to make the treatment palatable and predictable. The longer you wait to be seen, the more involved it may be to correct or repair the issue. In some cases we will not have a solution. One example is a child can be diagnosed with missing permanent teeth very early in their life. A plan can be put together to properly maintain the primary (baby) teeth for many years. The assumption is that all patients will lose these teeth, but that is not so. A dentist can monitor their growth and the teeth around them to assure the patient does not lose them. Primary teeth can remain for a lifetime if the patient is seen early and monitored closely. This will save time and treatment for the patient, and significant cost savings can be realized. So, the moral of the story is, be seen early in life by the dentist, and at least twice a year.