You have a decision to make. It’s a decision that can have last-lasting effects on your quality of life for years to come.
No one can make this decision for you, although we hope to encourage you to make the best decision you can for the sake of your smile. We hope you decide to visit Blankenship Family Dentistry for a professional dental cleaning before 2020 comes to an end.
Cleanings Don’t Have Term Limits
To maintain your healthy smile for years and decades, you need a solid oral care routine. The American Dental Association has some good recommendations in this regard.
Start by brushing your teeth twice every day. Grab a soft-bristled toothbrush and place a pea-sized drop of toothpaste on it. Then, scrub your teeth for two minutes, making sure to clean them on all sides.
Second, clean between your teeth and gums once daily. You can use dental floss, flossers, or a water floss to do this. This is important because your toothbrush isn’t as effective for cleaning these areas.
Last, but certainly not least, you should make dental checkups an integral part of your oral care routine. A good guideline is to come in every six months or so for a professional cleaning and exam. If you have chronic dental problems, more frequent checkups may be in order.
During your appointment, we remove tartar and plaque buildup. This can greatly reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease. Meanwhile, we also will inspect your mouth for any signs of tooth decay or gum infections. Either issue can lead to bigger problems (such as chronic bad breath, tooth infections, or tooth loss), so we want to treat them as quickly as possible.
By doing all of these things, you will be reducing your risk of long-term oral health problems.
Insurance Benefits Do Expire
If you have dental insurance, we want to encourage you to visit for another reason. In our experience, most dental plans are designed to encourage patients to get preventive care. As a result, most policies cover all or most of the cost of regular cleanings.
There is a catch, however. Most plans provide benefits that expire at the end of the calendar year. If you have insurance, you have probably had premium payments taken out of your paycheck throughout the year. If you don’t schedule a cleaning before the end of the year, you are missing out on one of the main benefits of your plan. (A quick disclaimer that you should review your policy for details.)
If You Don’t Have Insurance
We still welcome and encourage you to pay us a visit. Everyone deserves to have a healthy mouth. If you are concerned about the cost of care, we invite you to learn more about our payment options.
You can pay with cash, checks, or credit cards. You also can finance care with CareCredit. If you have questions about these options, please ask. We want to work with you, so you can get the care you deserve.
Contact us online or call 770-766-8995 to make an appointment at Blankenship Family Dentistry in Stone Mountain, GA.