Five ways A Dental Exam Can Benefit Your Long-Term Health

Reasons To Book A Dental Exam Today

A visit to the dentist can be a daunting proposition for many people. However, routine dental examinations with your neighborhood dentist can help prevent much bigger problems with early detection. It is better to identify and nip dental issues in the bud before requiring high-cost treatment involving multiple sessions with your dentist. 

It is vital to let your dentist know about your overall health during routine dental visits. Always let your dentist know about the following:

1. Any new medical conditions you’ve been diagnosed with since your last visit, even if they don’t seem pertinent. 
2. Any new medications that you’ve been prescribed for other medical problems. 
3. Any new life conditions such as pregnancy, allergies, habits.
4. Changes that you may have noticed in your teeth, such as a new color, looseness, bleeding in gums, or anything else. 
5. The advent of new dental conditions such as grinding or clenching teeth during sleep. 

A routine dental examination can do the following for you.

The American Dental Association describes the anatomy of a tooth as the following:

1. Enamel. Hard calcified tissue covering the dentin in the crown of the tooth. 
2. Anatomical Crown. The visible part of your tooth. It is typically covered by enamel.
3. Gums (also called gingiva.) Soft tissues that cover and protect the roots of your teeth and cover teeth that have not yet erupted.
4. Pulp Chamber. The space occupied by the pulp—the soft tissue at the center of your teeth containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. 
5. Neck. The area where the crown joins the root.
6. Dentin. That part of the tooth that is beneath enamel and cementum. 
7. Jawbone (Alveolar Bone.) The part of the jaw that surrounds the roots of the teeth.
8. Root Canal. The portion of the pulp cavity inside the root of a tooth; the chamber within the root of the tooth that contains the pulp.
9. Cementum. Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root, giving attachment to the periodontal ligament.
10. Periodontal Ligament. A system of collagenous connective tissue fibers that connect the root of a tooth to its socket.

To give you an idea of the importance of each of the above, note that your gums have the important job of housing your teeth and protecting the roots. The list is long. Your dentist can examine and identify problems or potential issues in any of the areas mentioned above during a routine visit.

In addition to chowing down on food, your teeth perform several functions. Do not forget, your teeth assist with word pronunciation and even have a role in giving shape to your mouth.

Your dentist is the one person who can help to stop the onset of tooth decay and help to preserve your natural tooth. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and protects your teeth. But, in the absence of living cells, tooth enamel cannot repair damage from decay or from wear. Hence, preventing tooth decay through early detection during a routine dental examination is of prime importance. 

A new, growing body of research finds links between the bacteria in your mouth and other problems like heart attack, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and premature births too, and may well jeopardize your overall health. Oral bacteria (both good and bad) present in your mouth can escape into the bloodstream due to gum inflammation and injure organs. Periodontal or gum disease has to be treated in the initial stages itself, with the help of routine dental examinations.  

The condition of your teeth says a lot about your overall health. A regular check-up by your dentist can do much more than a check for teeth health and dental cleaning, identifying diseases like diabetes, leukemia, certain immune system-related problems, and more. Ulceration in the mouth can be an indication of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Oral candidiasis or oral thrush can be linked to a number of conditions like HIV. A regular dental check-up may also help identify early signs of diseases before you even notice symptoms.

The Oral Cancer Foundation reported in 2019 that close to 53,000 Americans would be afflicted with the disease that year. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than other cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and many others. The primary reason for more fatality is because oral cancer is often discovered after it has progressed significantly. Many dentists use VELscope® technology to detect symptoms of early-stage oral cancer. Oral cancer detection in its early stages constitutes an essential facet of prevention and is the key to survival.

A dental exam today can help you avoid more serious complications in the future. Dr. Burton and his team at Midtowne Smiles will ensure that your teeth and mouth undergo a thorough examination.

Our team, including our dental hygienists, will work hard to keep your dental health in the best possible condition. The dental examination will help you identify problems and get answers and solutions for gum health, teeth restoration, dental health, comfort, and appearance. Some patients may need to address multiple issues that affect their oral health.

We can assist you with the right interventions to improve the smile’s aesthetics and repair damage to teeth, or replace missing teeth. We also offer other cosmetic dentistry treatments, such as clear aligners, dental veneers, dental bonding, inlays, onlays, teeth whitening, and more. 

Dr. Burton will assess your teeth, recommend a solution, and deliver treatment, working with you to achieve your goals.

If you want to keep your pearly whites in peak condition and keep flashing that beautiful smile for decades, never neglect your routine dental exam! Call us today or complete our online appointment form.