News 08/01/2025

Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Your Routine Dental Appointment

We get it. A trip to the dentist is rarely your favourite outing. But this shouldn't be a reason to put it off entirely. We understand that life can get in the way. You might struggle to find the time, or your work schedule might be less forgiving, making it more likely that you'll put your annual checkup on the backburner.

Skipping your routine appointment at the dentist can lead to widespread problems for your oral health. And missing booked appointments could also impact your relationship with your dentist.

Even those who take excellent care of their teeth put themselves at risk of serious oral conditions without a regular dental examination. Take the time to find a dentist who fits your needs and the next time you think about postponing your appointment, consider these reasons and see if they change your mind.

Regular checkups keep gum disease at bay

Regular checkups keep gum disease at bay

Gum disease can affect anyone – even those who seemingly take good care of their teeth. Just because you brush and floss daily, it does not mean that you are always using proper technique.

Gum disease stems from areas missed with regular oral hygiene and once gum disease is present it is very difficult to reverse the effects and can lead to much larger oral health issues.

Your teeth will also change throughout your life, so what works for you when you are younger might not work as you get older. With this in mind, it’s essential that you visit the dentist for regular checkups to ensure you get up-to-date advice.

Cavities develop long before they become painful

Tooth decay occurs long before you feel any pain, so waiting until you are in pain before scheduling a dental appointment is a bad idea.

By waiting too long you are far more likely to need extensive treatment such as root canal treatment, a crown or in the worst case scenario the tooth may need to be extracted.

If a problem is detected early, it is much easier to treat and reduces the need for time-consuming and costly dental procedures. Through regular dental checkups, you can enjoy the best possible preventative care from your dentist, so you aren’t always focusing on the restorative care.

Regular cleaning helps to reduce the build-up of stains

Regular cleaning helps to reduce the build-up of stains

It’s not just the dentist that can help to protect your teeth. You should also be committing to regular dental hygienist visits. By attending hygienist appointments, it is possible to remove tartar and plaque build-up that it would not be possible to remove at home.

The hygienist is also able to remove stains ensuring that your teeth remain bright and white. This is the simplest way to enjoy a brighter and whiter smile, and it’s also the ideal treatment before teeth whitening to ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible. So regular visits to the dentist not only result in healthier teeth, they can also result in a more beautiful smile.

Skipped dental appointments can mean more work later

When you regularly postpone dental examinations, you may think that you are saving yourself time and money, but in the end you are just putting off the inevitable.

Waiting until you experience a problem, means that you will require more extensive dental treatment in the long run, which is likely to require far more time away from work and leisure than a dental examination.

Your dentist can spot the early signs of tooth decay and address it before it even becomes a problem to you. If you skip visits, the first you may be aware will be when your tooth becomes more sensitive, but even this might not be enough to prompt a visit. If you wait until the tooth is more painful, you will be looking at an extensive filling, root canal or perhaps even an extraction.

Once the tooth is removed, you’ll then need to think about restorative options such as a bridge or dental implant. Suddenly you are paying thousands for a treatment that could have been prevented with a simple checkup.

Regular checkups allow you to build a relationship with your dentist

Regular checkups allow you to build a relationship with your dentist

There are benefits to your dentist knowing your oral health really well. The only way for your dentist to be able to provide personalised and bespoke advice is if they see you regularly. So skipping appointments could damage this relationship.

It’s also not uncommon for dental practices to remove patients from their books if they regularly miss appointments. Missed appointments make it more difficult for patients to access care that they need, so it’s essential for dental practices to avoid this behaviour.

To counter the issue of no-shows, some dental practices will remove you from their books if you fail to attend multiple appointments. The best thing to do would be to cancel if you cannot attend and then re-book your appointment for a more convenient time. This will help you to avoid the perils of losing access to your dentist.

What if I’m nervous or it has been a while

What if I’m nervous or it has been a while?

We specialise in supporting nervous patients to help them get their oral health back on track. We’ll work with you to address your fears and help you to feel more confident during your visits.

If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, we don’t mind that either. We would rather you start the journey to get your oral health back on track today rather than delaying the issue any longer. The sooner you book a routine checkup, the sooner we can deliver personalised advice to help protect your oral health.

So, don’t delay, call Benfleet Dental Centre today on 01702 557766 and book a consultation. Whether you haven’t been to the dentist for a long time, or you have simply missed one appointment, we can help you to get back on track.

Map of Benfleet Dental Centre

Visit the practice

Benfleet Dental Centre

8 Benfleet Road, Benfleet. SS7 1QB

Opening times

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 18:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 14:00*
*By appointment only