Most dental problems start without pain. A cavity first attacks the enamel, which has no nerve, and the tooth says nothing until the lesion reaches the living part deeper inside. A gum that becomes inflamed bleeds when brushing long before it bothers you. Tartar settles in without being felt. Waiting until it hurts therefore means waiting until the problem has already progressed.
What the check-up spots before you do
During the check-up, the dentist examines each tooth, the existing restorations, the gums and the soft tissues. An X-ray is suggested when it adds information the visual examination cannot give, for instance between two teeth or under an old filling. The aim is not to find a treatment to do, but to know where your mouth stands and to decide, with you, whether something calls for a procedure, monitoring or simply advice.
Why the small treatment costs less than the big one
A cavity caught early is treated with a filling in one appointment. The same cavity, a few months later, may have reached the pulp and require a root canal treatment, then a crown to protect what is left of the tooth. The number of appointments, the discomfort and the cost rise with every stage crossed. That is the most concrete reason to come before it hurts.
How often to come
There is no rhythm that fits everyone. The practice suggests an interval based on your cavity risk, the state of your gums, your habits and your history. Some people come once a year, others more often during a given period. That interval is reviewed at each check-up.
What still holds at home
Brushing twice a day, cleaning between the teeth and limiting sugar between meals remain the basics. The check-up does not replace them, it checks that they are enough, and corrects course when they are not. If your last check-up was more than a year ago, or you no longer remember when it was, now is a good time to plan one.
2026-09-14