Dental checkups are an important part of keeping your teeth healthy, but what if you don’t have any teeth left? Should you still attend biannual dental appointments if you wear full dentures? Your dentist can help with a lot more than just your teeth. Read on to learn about four important reasons why you should continue to visit the dentist twice per year for dental checkups with dentures.
#1: Maintain Great Oral Health
Dentures can’t develop cavities, but they still accumulate plaque. Since plaque contains bacteria that feed off the sugar in food, it’s important that you have it removed regularly to keep it from causing gum disease or an oral infection. Though brushing is an important part of plaque removal, your dentist will give your dentures a thorough, professional clean during your checkups to ensure that your oral health stays in good shape.
#2: Detect Issues Early
Teeth aren’t the only thing dentistry focuses on. Visiting your dentist for regular checkups will give them a chance to examine your gums, tongue, jawbone, and other parts of the body that are connected to your oral health. They will look out for problems like infections, oral cancer, signs of teeth grinding, and more. Your dentist will even be able to identify early signs of health conditions like acid reflux, kidney issues, diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease. The earlier these issues are detected, the easier it will be to treat them.
#3: Adjust Your Dentures for Maximum Comfort
When you lose a tooth, this causes the jawbone in that area to begin corroding due to lack of stimulation. Since the jawbone will naturally begin to change shape over time, this will inevitably cause your dentures to fit incorrectly and lose their close, comfortable fit. This can lead to discomfort and increases your risk of developing oral health issues. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will check to see if your dentures are fitting properly and make minor adjustments where necessary to keep your smile as healthy and comfortable as possible.
#4: Prolong the Life of Your Dentures
During your checkup, your dentist will also closely inspect your dentures for signs of damage or other issues. By doing this, they can take preemptive or early action to address issues before your dentures break. Your dentist will also be able to provide you with personalized tips for at-home denture maintenance that will assist you in extending the lifespan of your restoration.
No matter how many teeth you have left, visiting the dentist is an important part of maintaining good oral health. So, make sure to continue scheduling your biannual visits. This will allow you to avoid oral health issues and keep your smile looking as bright and beautiful as ever!
About the Practice
If you have dentures and are in need of a checkup, you came to the right place. Dental Partners of Newburyport offers several tooth replacement options like dentures and can do a thorough exam and cleaning to keep oral health issues from developing. They can also teach you the importance of taking care of your dentures at home so your smile stays lovely and luminous for years to come! Call (978) 465-5358 or visit their website for more information on why it’s important to visit the dentist even if you have full dentures or to schedule an appointment.