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Originally Posted by genuinegirly
I'm curious...
I'm 23. never had a cavity, brush two to three times per day, remember to floss more often than not.
How long is too long between dentist visits? It has been about two years, just received dental insurance so I'm planning on making an appointment before the end of the year... Still, I'm curious if I'm doing myself a disservice by not seeing a dentist every 6 months.
The other question: Who do I see regarding difficulties with my jaw? For the past 6 years, it has popped out of joint regularly (basically every time i open my mouth wide it pops), and can sometimes be painful. I have mentioned it to dentists and orthodontists in the past, but they have dismissed it as nothing. I would like to have it investigated and dealt with appropriately.
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First off, great investment on choosing to take care of your mouth. Not only will you look and smell good but it'll save you a ton of money later on.
Even though you take such good care, I'd still suggest you get a professional cleaning every 6 months or so. Stuff naturally builds up after a while and it's covered by your insurance so you're paying for it anyway. Because you have such a low caries index (tendancy not to get "cavities") you probably need x-rays only once/year. But I'd still get things cleaned up twice/year. Ounce of prevention and all that...
As for your TMJ problems, ask for a referal to a prosthodontist or oral surgeon who deals with a lot of this in their practice. There are options outside of surgery like making a splint to fit your teeth that might help.
Good luck.