Part of what your dentist will do when you visit is diagnose any potential ailments you may suffer from. Your dentist may run x-rays, conduct a thorough analysis of your mouth, and may ask you about any symptoms you have experienced. All this will help your dentist diagnose any possible problems. It is vital that your visit your dentist twice a year, since he or she can diagnose problems early – before you suffer from pain and complications. Cavities diagnosed early, for example, can be treated fairly easily, without root canal treatment. Early detection of oral cancer can literally save your life, so you need to visit your dentist at least twice a year so that he or she can properly diagnose any possible problems and start treating them at once.