Emirates Dental
Most of us tend to neglect our oral health for so many reasons. Unlike other health concerns, it is easy to overlook dental issues as they may appear minor at first. However, when it comes to oral health, prevention is better than cure any day, as most of these seemingly small issues may become major concerns within weeks.
If you are someone whose dental appointments are long overdue, here are five reasons why you must book an appointment at our dental clinic in Dubai for a checkup at the earliest.
Understanding a basic oral checkup
During your regular dental appointment, your dentist will start by asking about your general medical history. After that, you will have a complete oral examination during which the dentist will check for signs of plaque, cavities, gum diseases, malocclusions, and wearing or thinning of the enamel.
If your teeth are generally healthy and only show minor plaque buildup, professional cleaning may be the only thing necessary to keep them healthy for the next six months. However, for some people, routine oral checkups could reveal underlying health issues requiring immediate medical attention and potentially saving their life. Remember that skipping out on your regular dental checkup can cost you more than your time and money. Here are five such conditions that can be identified from your routine dental checkup.
Oral cancer is a very serious, potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. As the early signs of oral cancer are very subtle, it is easy to miss out, unless diagnosed during your regular checkup. Often, undiagnosed oral cancer can progress quickly, even spreading to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat and recover.
With that said, early detection of oral cancer makes it possible to achieve a complete recovery. By undergoing dental checkups every six months, you increase the likelihood of detecting oral cancer in time and treating it effectively.
Dental malocclusions such as overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, and gapped or crowded teeth are easily visible during a simple oral examination. Most people take them lightly and consider malocclusions as a cosmetic issue rather than a functional one which is a mistake.
When you overlook dental malocclusions and live with them, it drastically reduces the quality of your life. From experiencing gum diseases and uneven wear and tear of the teeth to long-term jaw pain and headaches, there are many side effects to leaving your misaligned teeth without treatment. Apart from dental issues, malocclusion also affects your ability to chew your food properly, resulting in digestive issues.
Since most people dislike wearing metallic braces for some time to correct their malocclusion, clear aligners and transparent braces have taken over the orthodontic industry. Talk to your dentist to know more about clear aligners and if they are suitable for you.
Even if you diligently brush and floss your teeth every day, there are still areas in your mouth that are missed during regular brushing and flossing. Over time, plaque builds up in these places, solidifying into tartar. Tartar is extremely difficult to get rid of without professional help and must be removed during regular dental appointments.
Skipping your appointments will cause the tartar to erode your teeth’s enamel, creating holes in them called cavities. Leaving your cavities untreated will lead to tooth decay and gum infections. Once the damage is done, you may need to fill your cavities and get further treatment to get rid of the infection.
By visiting your dentist every six months, you can avoid the build-up of plaque and tartar, the formation of cavities, and eventual tooth decay.
As mentioned before, plaque and tartar buildup not only cause tooth decay but can also lead to gum diseases. When tartar buildup occurs, it may lead to an infection at the point where the gum is connected to the tooth. This infection, known as gingivitis, causes the gum to pull away from the tooth by breaking down the tissue that attaches the tooth to the gum.
As the gum infection progresses, you will notice swelling, bleeding, or soreness in the mouth. If you leave your gum infection untreated, it will eventually break down the bone that holds the teeth in place, leading to teeth loosening or falling out altogether. Although there are treatments such as dental implants to replace a lost tooth, it saves time and money by preventing or treating gum disease by going for your regular dental appointments.
Apart from your dental health, your dentist will also check your jaw, neck, and lymph nodes located below your jawline for signs of swelling, lumps, or other abnormalities. For instance, you may be experiencing unexplained headaches as a result of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, requiring treatment from a dental surgeon. At the same time, a swollen lymph node could be a sign of certain types of cancers, requiring immediate medical attention.
A routine oral checkup can reveal similar issues relating to jaw, neck, head, and lymph nodes that are often overlooked or misinterpreted. This is why early detection, treatment, and prevention must be ongoing when it comes to oral health.
Are you ready to book your dental appointment?
From the above examples, it is safe to assume that regular dental checkups are much more important than most people originally thought. Meeting with your dentist every six months will not only take care of your dental health but may also help maintain your general health and wellbeing. With new and popular treatments such as clear aligners and better preventive methods, dental care has become discreet, safer, and easier than before. So book your appointment at our dental clinic in Dubai today for stronger, healthier teeth and bones and a winning smile!
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