“The early bird gets the worm,” as the saying goes, and when it comes to scheduling your dental checkup and cleaning appointments, that certainly seems to be the case. Booking your first exam of the year earlier rather than later comes with several benefits you won’t want to miss out on – especially the financial ones! To learn more about why dentists make this recommendation, keep reading.
Deductibles, Deductibles, Deductibles
It’s January, which means that your dental insurance benefits and deductible have likely reset. This means that any free checkup and cleaning appointments offered by your policy are once again available, and that you’ll have to build up to your deductible amount so you can receive more coverage for the rest of the year.
A good strategy is to have your dentist check on your teeth while you can afford it and talk with them about arranging any other treatments you might have in mind!
Biannual Appointments are Best
Scheduling a dental checkup every six months is the most effective way to prevent harmful (and costly) oral conditions. And studies back this up! Those who see their dentists on a regular basis are significantly less likely to develop cavities, gum disease, and infection. However, it’s a bit difficult to meet that quota if you wait until November to book your first visit.
Oral Conditions are Easier to Treat Early
As a general rule of thumb, if you do happen to develop an oral condition, it’s much easier and less expensive to treat it early on, before it becomes worse. One of the reasons it’s so important to look after your dental health is that unlike other parts of your body, your teeth can’t heal themselves. Cavities, gum disease, infection, chips, cracks, and other afflictions won’t get better without treatment.
Schedule your first checkup of the year soon, so your dentist can screen for early warning signs. In another six months, you’ll be ready for a second round!
Start the Year Off Fresh
This time of year marks new beginnings and fresh starts. So why not forge ahead into 2025 with a fresh smile and pristine oral health? After your checkup and cleaning appointment, you’ll have sparkling pearly whites and a plan for treating any existing oral conditions. Overall, you’ll empower yourself to have a confident start to the new year!
About the Author
Dr. Haiwen Zhang earned his dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina James B Edward College of Dental Medicine. To keep his skills sharp and stay on top of emerging trends in dentistry, he actively pursues continuing education programs with organizations like the Pankey Institute and Spear Education. Dr. Zhang makes it his mission to provide quality, compassionate care in a comfortable office environment, so if you need to schedule your first dental checkup of the year, don’t hesitate to call his office at 505-372-1121.