The Importance of Dental Exams

Juggling hectic schedules has practically become a national pastime. We seem to have become adept at perfecting the skills of procrastination and switching out activities we’d rather not do with those that we perceive are more important or a better use of our time.

Doctor’s appointments, mainly dentist’s appointments, are often one of those things we rationalize that can be delayed or removed altogether from your schedule as an astounding 100 million Americans do every year for their dentist appointments. It sounds so logical in our heads when we talk ourselves into it. After all, we were just there six months ago. Is it all that important to go back?

“Absolutely!” says our own Dr. Marcano at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. In this blog, he shares his insights on why dental exams may arguably be one of the most important appointments you can make.

Oral health and systemic health connection

“One of the most important appointments you can make.” Really? That statement may seem pretty bold at first blush, but let’s break it down. When you think about it, the typical person sees their dentist more often than their primary care doctor. Although you’re there primarily for a thorough dental checkup and professional cleaning, so much more happens. But when you add the connection between oral health and systemic health, the full picture becomes clearer.

For more than two decades, researchers have studied the connection between oral health and systemic health. But in 2000, when the U.S. Surgical General released the first-ever report on oral health in the United States, the whole issue was blown wide open. In the report, he acknowledged the link between conditions like gum disease and stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications. The Academy of General Dentistry takes it a step further by stating that more than 90% of all systemic diseases like kidney and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer have oral symptoms such as mouth ulcers, dry mouth, and gum disorders.

Detecting oral cancer

Oral cancer screenings are one of those critical added extras in a dental exam.

At Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Marcano examines your tongue, gums, and cheeks, looking for red and white patches or visible sores. Using gloved hands, he’ll feel for lumps or bumps. Suppose you’re at a higher risk of oral cancer. In that case, he may conduct other diagnostics, including using a special mouth rinse, an auto-fluorescent light, or an advanced treatment device called a VELScope®, which detects cancerous lesions.

Keeping gum disease in check

Dental exams play an important role in staving off gum disease which is the leading cause of tooth loss. If left untreated, the infection from the bacteria could spread to other parts of the body contributing to systemic issues like cardiovascular disease and stroke. So when your dentist measures the pockets between your teeth and gums, you are getting the ultimate bonus. Not only can your dental exam keep your teeth and gums healthy, but it also serves as a preventive measure for your overall health.

Fixing minor dental issues before they become big, painful ones

As if serving a central preventive and maintenance role wasn’t enough, the dental exam is crucial for resolving small issues like tooth decay before they develop into much bigger, painful problems that send you to the emergency room. If you ever had a toothache or needed a root canal or extraction, you know that avoiding those urgent issues is well worth the time and effort.

Contact us at Orlando Center For Cosmetic Dentistry if you’ve been putting off your professional dental exam and cleaning. Schedule an appointment by clicking the online booking tool or calling the office today at 407-855-1471.