Although you should take good care of your teeth on a daily basis by brushing and flossing regularly, there are some things that can be missed that a dentist can help you with.  Semi-annual check-ups and cleanings are very important to your oral health.  Your visit to see your dentist every six months serves several different purposes.  The most important reason is to give your teeth a deep and thorough cleansing.  Other important aspects of a check-up are having an evaluation to check for any problems and getting x-rays.

Professional Cleanings: Assuming you have no other issues with your teeth or mouth, you should always plan to visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning.  Aside from brushing and flossing, this serves as a foundation for preventing gum disease and tooth decay.  Your professional cleaning or dental prophylaxis is normally performed by a certified dental hygienist who will:
    Remove plaque from the teeth which is the sticky substance that collects on your teeth.  Plaque harbors bacteria that produces acid which, if not removed, can gradually wear down your teeth and irritate your gums.  Plaque must be removed in order to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
    Remove tartar or calculus from above the gum line.  Tartar is plaque that has hardened on the tooth surface and can be difficult to remove.  A hygienist knows what to look for and has the materials to remove any existing calculus.
    Polish and remove stains from teeth if you choose.  This is not necessarily a regular procedure but one that you can elect to have a hygienist perform.

Dental Examinations: Receiving a dental examination is an important part of a good check-up.  Performing an examination can help to diagnose a disease before it becomes a serious problem which can lead to health issues, irreparable damage and large medical bills.  A dental examination generally will include:
    Oral cancer screening
    Gum disease evaluation
    Visual examination of tooth decay
    Examination of diagnostic x-rays to see cysts, tumors, invisible decay and other problems that can't be seen by the naked eye
    Evaluation of status of current restorations (fillings and others)

X-rays: X-rays are used to find conditions that are not visible in a visual examination.  The information that an x-ray provides is essential for making and confirming a diagnosis.  If you are able to find a potential problem before it actually becomes a problem, you can avoid a lot of pain, health problems and further damage.  Using an x-ray, your dentist will be able to see:
developing permanent teeth and note any abnormalities or missing teeth.
    any extra teeth that might cause damage to the developing permanent teeth.
    decay that might be developing between the teeth so that it can be treated at an early stage before more serious damage is done.
    decay that might be occurring under old fillings so that it can be treated before damage to the dental pulp occurs.
    an abscesses that may have formed at the end of the root of a tooth.  Treating this condition can save the tooth.
    bone loss around the teeth.  This is a sign of periodontal disease and x-rays are an important part of diagnosis and treatment.
    the shape of the roots which is important to know for some treatments.
    broken and retained root fragments that can lead to infections.
    benign and malignant tumors.
    impacted teeth, particularly third molars.  Seeing these will help them make a decision to remove them or not.

There are many advantages to having semi-annual dental cleanings done.  An ounce of prevention goes a long way, so don't wait until you have a disease to treat.  Make sure to make those appointments.

Having a thorough, professional cleaning performed by a dental hygienist is an integral part of good oral hygiene.  Experts have recommended that for the majority of people, a regular dental cleaning and check-up be performed every six months or twice a year.  However, depending you your circumstances, you dentist may recommend that you schedule appointments more often. 

You may be considered at greater risk for oral diseases if you use alcohol and tobacco, you have diabetes, you are pregnant, you have periodontal or gum disease, you have poor oral hygiene or you have some other medical condition.  All these are things that your dental professional will take into consideration when deciding how often you need to have an examination and cleaning performed.

Having regular check-ups has many benefits.  Along with brushing and flossing regularly, you will be able to keep your teeth and gums health and strong.  You will also be able to detect any early problems such as gum disease, oral cancer and cavities.   Ten reasons you should visit your dentist every six months are:
1.    To prevent oral cancer: When you go in for your routine check-up, your dentist will perform an evaluation on you in order to determine if you have any problems developing, one of which is oral cancer.  This disease has a high rate of curability if diagnosed and treated early on.
2.    To prevent gum disease: Gum disease includes gingivitis and periodontitis.  These are infections of the gum tissues.  If left untreated, gingivitis will progress into periodontitis which is the loss of bone that keeps your teeth in place.  If diagnosed early, the process can be treated and reversed.  If not, it can at least be treated and controlled. 
3.    To help maintain good physical health: heart attacks and gum disease have been linked to gum disease in some studies which is a direct result of poor oral hygiene.  Having a thorough cleaning performed every six months will help keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.
4.    To keep your natural teeth: gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.  Regular maintenance of your teeth, which includes semi-annual check-ups, will greatly increase your chances of keeping the teeth you have.
5.    To detect dental problems early on: having an oral evaluation and x-rays taken will give your dentist a very good idea what is going on in your mouth.  They will be able to detect any signs of problems with your teeth and gums.  Doing so will help them to treat them early and prevent painful, expensive problems from developing.  If early signs of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are left untreated, root canals, gum surgery and loss of teeth could become your only choices. 
6.    To maintain good oral health: your dental professionals will be able to advise you on how to take care of your teeth properly.  If they see inconsistencies with other check-ups, they should be able to help you determine what habits are lacking and help you to re-establish them.
7.    To take advantage of your dental insurance: dental insurance plans usually pay for all or most of preventative check-ups and cleanings every six months.  Take advantage of this or you may have more expensive problems to fix and have to pay out more for them.
8.    To create a treatment plan: if your mouth requires extensive work, you can discuss this with your dentist to determine how long, it will take, how much it will cost, and you can set up a plan to get it all taken care of.
9.    To have a brighter, whiter smile: teeth whitening is becoming popular, simpler, and much more affordable.  Treatments can be performed in the office or you can receive at home treatments to use in between check-ups. 
10.    To take time out of your hectic schedule: many people find the time spent in the sitting room and on a dentist chair to be very relaxing and invigorating.  Use the time to read a little or do some quiet meditating before heading back to the office or home to the kids.

Finally, the best way to maintain good oral health is to visit your dentist on a regular basis.
Keep your options open by not condemning yourself to experiencing advanced, irreversible oral problems.

If you have recently signed up for a new dentist, you may be surprised at the amount of medical history questions they require to be filled out before they will provide treatment.  You may even think some of this information is unnecessary.  However, the more information your doctor has on all of medical history, the better he can treat you and you may even be surprised how much your over all health can be interrelated with your dental health.

Many dental offices have you fill out a medical questionnaire before you are given treatment.  Some of these questionnaires can be very specific and include things that you may think does not relate to your dental health.  This form may include questions about lifestyle (such as smoking or involvement in high-risk sports) and family medical history.  This history, combined with the results of your initial clinical examination, will be the basis for your dentist's approach to your dental health.

You should mention everything about your health, even if you don't think it relates to your mouth.  If you have had surgery or a major illness, be sure to include this information in the medical history of your patient information section.  Many diseases can have significant effects on your mouth and teeth, and researchers continue to discover ways in which oral health is related to overall health.  Diabetes, for instance, can increase the risk of periodontal disease.

You should have your current medication information on the forms that you fill out.  This information can be vital for you health.  These medications can have a small impact or even a very large impact in the decisions that you dentist makes for your.  For instance, some medications cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities.  Other health conditions may require us to change the type of anesthesia given.  If you are in an accident and need emergency dental care this information could be vital so you will want to keep the information up to date.

You will want to keep these records up to date.  If you have a change in your medical condition it is important to update these records even if the dentist doesn't ask.  You may become pregnant or develop allergies.  This could easily cause your dentist to need to change some of his decisions.  For instance, pregnant ladies should avoid unnecessary x-rays.  This and other procedures should be avoided while pregnant and may cause your dentist to want to delay or change some of the work he was to perform.

Your dentist cannot release this medical information without your consent.  By law this information is private.

You may also wonder why the questionnaire has grown so large.  You don't remember having such a large form last time you signed up for a dentist 15 years ago.  The reason the list has grown so large is because medicine continues to advance and many new procedures are created almost daily.  Some of the effects on your dental health may not even be known yet.  Hence, it is best to have all of the information possible as your dentist makes decisions for your oral health.

Suggested items to include on your patient registration form:
    Any recent heart surgery (within the last six months)
    Artificial heart valve(s)
    Asthma
    Congenital Heart defect
    Epilepsy/seizures
    History of rheumatic fever
    History of heart murmer/mitral valve prolapse
    Knee, joint or hip replacement surgery
    Latex allergy
    Medications: Prescribed or over-the-counter
    Pacemaker
    Previous bacterial endocarditis
    Systemic pulmonary shunt
    If you smoke (smoking can lead to serious problems like oral cancer)
    About any allergies you have (including latex allergy
    If you are pregnant
    Any health problem or medical condition you are being treated for

In summary, your dentist needs all of the information possible when making a decision about your oral health.  Some information may not seem pertinent to you, but many health situations can affect your dental health.  Thus, you should be honest and disclose the necessary information so that you dentist can make the best decision for you.

Preventive dental cleanings and annual exams during pregnancy are not only safe, but are recommended. However, not all types of dental work are approved and some should wait for after the birth.  You may find that you are in pain or have your health threatened by some dental problems.  All issues should be consulted with your dentist and obstetrician to make sure that the baby is not harmed or put at risk.

The rise in hormone levels during pregnancy causes the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food causing increased irritation to your gums.  Preventive dental work is essential to avoid oral infections such as gum disease, which has been linked to preterm birth.

Cavity fillings and crowns are considered dental work that should be treated to reduce the chance of infection.  The second trimester is considered ideal for this work to be done if done during a pregnancy.  Once you reach the third trimester, it may be very difficult to lie on your back for an extended period of time.

If possible, your safest course of action is to postpone all unnecessary dental work until after the birth.  However, emergency dental work such as a root canal or tooth extraction is may be necessary.  In these cases you should make sure your dentist knows that you are pregnant before you schedule the appointment.

Optional or elective treatments, such as teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures, should be postponed until after the birth.  It is best to avoid exposing the developing baby to any risks, even if they are minimal.  Some of the newer procedures have not been around long enough for all of the implications to be understood.  It is best to not take chances and wait until after the birth of your baby.

You will find that medications are one of the higher risks of dental work during a pregnancy.  Currently, there are conflicting studies about possible adverse effects on the developing baby from medications used during dental work.  Lidocaine is the most commonly used drug for dental work.  Lidocaine does cross the placenta after administration.

If you find that dental work is necessary, the amount of anesthesia administered should be kept to a minimum, but still you need to make sure that you are comfortable.  If you experience pain, then you need to request additional numbing.  The amount of stress on you and the baby needs to be kept at a minimum and this is accomplished by keeping you comfortable.  You don't want to try and do the procedure without anesthesia because it could cause the baby a lot of stress.

Dental work often requires antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin, which are labeled category B for safety in pregnancy, may be prescribed after your procedure.

You will want to avoid taking routine x-rays that can be postponed until after the birth. However, X-rays are necessary to perform many dental procedures, especially emergencies.  According to the American College of Radiology, no single diagnostic x-ray has a radiation dose significant enough to cause adverse effects in a developing embryo or fetus.

Additionally, fetal organ development occurs during the first trimester.  You will want to avoid all potential risks at this time if possible.  Also, if you can postpone any non-emergency dental work during the third trimester, it is usually recommended.  This is to avoid the risk of premature labor and prolonged time lying on your back.

In summary, during a pregnancy you will need to continue to work on your oral hygiene and perform most routine maintenance of your teeth.  However, you will want to avoid any cosmetic or unnecessary dental work to avoid risks to the baby.  However, if emergency work is required, then it should be done while keeping stress to a minimum and in consultation with your obstetrician.