Purpose of regular check ups?

[Mytee]

Shouldn't the purpose of regular checkups be early identification and action to prevent the need for advanced procedures like root canals?

Is it conceivable that my dentist of three years could not see a cavity forming between my lower right molars during my regular six month check ups? Now I am having root pain and may need a root canal. I would have rather had a filling a year or two ago.

Should/could this have been seen earlier?

 

[Janet Two Hawks]

Generally, you should have two cleaning a year with hygienist, and X-rays/exam once a year with dentist, unless you have some reason for more frequent treatment. Have you had annual X-rays, or have you skipped that part? As good as your dentist is, they don’t have X-ray vision. A tooth can die at any time, but if a patient is diagnosed with caries, ignores it, the outcome is eventual root canal.