Regular dental exams and cleanings allow your oral health professional to thoroughly clean the areas of your mouth that are difficult to reach and advise you about your hygiene habits, but did you know that these appointments can allow them to detect and treat potentially dangerous oral health issues? Early detection can prevent severe damage and infections while also saving you sizeable sums of money by avoiding the need for more costly treatments. Here are a few of the oral health problems your dentist can help you detect.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is an insidious little menace that starts out small as a pre-cavity spot that can usually be reversed if it is detected in time. However, it will develop into a cavity if it is left untreated, and these nasty infections can often be difficult to find without the help of your dental professional even if they are already quite severe. Unaddressed tooth decay will lead to an agonizing toothache, tooth loss, and possibly dangerous secondary infections like sepsis.
At your exam and cleaning, your dentist will carefully inspect each of the surfaces of your teeth for signs of infection and determine an appropriate treatment for any problems they find. While many cavities can be addressed with dental fillings, severe decay may require a root canal or even extraction and tooth replacement.
Gum Disease
Similarly to tooth decay, gum disease is a sinister threat that may be imperceptible when it begins and will lead to serious oral health issues if it is allowed to progress. Gum disease starts as inflammation called gingivitis that can usually be reversed with improved oral hygiene, but it will develop into the far more destructive stage called periodontitis if left untreated. Periodontitis causes permanent damage like gum recession, jawbone erosion, and tooth loss, and it may even lead to severe secondary infections like sepsis and pneumonia.
Your dentist will carefully inspect your gums during your checkup for any signs of inflammation or infection. If they find gingivitis, they will probably recommend a better oral hygiene regimen, but periodontitis must be managed with periodic gum disease therapy sessions at their office.
Preventing a problem is always better than having to deal with it. Seeing your dentist regularly will allow you to avoid a host of unpleasant oral health issues that can take major tolls on the beauty of your smile as well as your pocketbook.
About the Author
Dr. Alexandria N. Arditti earned her dental doctorate at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and keeps her skills up to date by participating in postgraduate coursework. The staff at her Huntington Beach office takes great pride in protecting patient’s smiles through preventive, restorative, and emergency dentistry. To schedule your next exam and cleaning, contact her office online or dial (714) 592-4294.