Regular dental visits twice a year might seem menial and an utter waste of time and money, but in the greater scheme of things, getting your teeth checked regularly can prevent various oral problems, hence saving a lot of money and pain. Moreover, nearly 120 medical conditions present early symptoms via the oral cavity and can be caught early on during a simple dental examination.
What Happens During an Appointment:
A standard examination procedure involves checking gums, mouth, throat, tongue, head, and neck, followed by a dental cleaning explained in the following steps:
The Oral Examination:
- Examination for signs of gum disease via a special tool that measures the depth of the spaces between the teeth and gums. Shallow spaces indicate healthy gums, whereas deeper spaces are signs of gum disease.
- Checking for loose and broken teeth, and visual signs of tooth decay
- Observation of tissues inside the mouth
- Tongue examination
- Bite examination (teeth position when jaws are closed)
- Checking contact between the teeth
- Evaluating any dental appliance, such as braces, retainers or dentures.
- Taking x-rays (if required)
The Face and Neck:
- Facial and neck examination
- Checking the lymph nodes
- Checking the lower jaw joints
Dental Cleaning:
- Checking teeth and gum hygiene
- Plaque and tartar removal
- Polishing
- Flossing
- Reviewing at-home brushing and flossing techniques
After a thorough check-up and cleaning, the dentist will discuss oral health issues, if any, and make additional recommendations.
The Benefits:
1- Keeping Bad Habits In Check:
Aside from smoking, which is a detrimental practice through and through, most people do not realize that certain habits, such as chewing ice, nail-biting, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, eating sticky or hard sweets, and brushing too hard can damage the oral cavity. Regular dentist appointments can help pinpoint such destructive habits, fix the damage already inflicted, and avoid further occurrences by eliminating or reducing the causative factors.
2- A Deeper Look:
X-rays that are part of dental checkups are the only source of detecting various destructive conditions, such as impacted teeth (blockage of growing teeth from breaking out of the gums), jawbone damages, bone decay, swelling, cysts and tumors, as they cannot be detected through a visual examination due to them being below surface level.
3- Detecting Face and Neck Problems:
Owing to a comprehensive head and neck examination, troublesome and/or chronically swollen lymph nodes, or a swollen thyroid gland, which might be a sign of certain cancers and other diseases can be detected and treated early, as required.
4- Lowering The Risk Of Diabetes:
Diabetes has multiple visible symptoms, but a high blood sugar is often initially indicated by frequent instances of oral health problems such as cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Moreover, prolonged dental infections and unhealing red or white sores are also indicative of diabetes.
5- Diagnosing Temporomandibular Joint disorder (TMJ):
Symptoms of this painful lower jaw joint condition include increasingly persistent headaches, mouth pain, difficulty chewing or opening and closing the jaw, which can be the result of either tooth grinding (bruxism), bad bites or jaw injuries. Regular checkups can aid in an early diagnosis and effective, inexpensive treatments such as overnight mouth-guards for bruxism prevention and procedures for bad bite elimination, among others.
6- Lowering Heart Attack and Stroke Risk:
Regular examinations and cleanings can help diagnose and treat gum disease, which also reduces the risk of a heart attack by 24% and a stroke by 13 %, according to recent studies published in an article in Science Daily.
7- Cosmetic Solutions:
In addition to the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of various oral and general health conditions, regular dental visits can also benefit the overall appearance of the teeth. People who are not at risk of cavities or tooth decay might also discuss and apply whitening or straightening options with their dentist.
In order to protect your oral health and your smile in the years to come, visit your dentist regularly. At oladoc, you can also search and Find a Dental Specialist in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Moreover, you can also call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 and seek the best appointment with the nearest dentist.
