As September is Oral Health Care month, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the importance of having a regular dental examination.
Only about half the population regularly visit the dentist but having a dental examination is extremely important.
Routine Oral Examination
Did you know that examination of the teeth during the six monthly visit is only a fraction of what is usually checked? A good examintion begins by looking outside the mouth and doing an extra oral examination and palpation under the chin and by the side of the throat to check for ‘lumps and bumps’. Sure, there are certain things that you will be able to notice yourself but there are often subtle changes that you may not notice that may be important to know about. Any lumps and bumps may be signs of imfection in and around your mouth or early signs of more serious disease.
Once an extra oral examination is done, then it’s time to examine the inside of the mouth. But often the teeth are not checked first. Initially a thorough check is done of the oral mucosa (skin inside the mouth). The roof of the mouth, cheeks, tonsillar region and the upper, side and underside of the tongue. This is extremely important as it is an oral cancer screen. Did you know that oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world and kills more people than malignant melanoma, hodgekins disease and cervical cancer. The five year mortality of this disease is less than 50%, yet there is little publicity about it. The reason that oral cancer has a high mortality rate is because it is detected too late. Detecting this disease early makes it much more curable. So the next time you wonder why the dentist is looking at your tongue you’ll know – he/she could be saving your life!
Examination of the tongue
Early tongue cancer
Once you know what a healthy mouth looks like, perhaps you could regularly check your own mouth every mouth in the mirror on a monthly basis to check for any changes.
Once the soft tissues are checked, often we’re still not quite onto checking the teeth. Several dentists check the gums next. Gum disease is a very general term. Inflamation of the gums is called gingivitis. But when it is more advanced, the supporting tissues of the teeth can degrade. The bone supporting your teeth can ‘shrink’ down and this can lead to losing your teeth early in life. This advanced form of gum disease is called periodontitis. It is treatable and the earlier it is detected the better the chances of saving the teeth before they are lost. Did you know that there is a link between periodontitis and several general systemic diseases? In particular, there are strong links with heart disease and stroke. The bacteria (porphorymonas gingivalis) that are prevalent in gum disease have been found in the plaques found in the inner lining of the heart vessels in people with gum disease.
Gum bacteria found in plaques in arteries in heart
Pregnant ladies are also at risk. There is also a strong link between periodontitis and low birth weight babies and preterm babies. At this point we are not sure why, but the link exists. One recent report also linked the death of a lady’s baby to her gum disease. It must be pointed out that this was one single report but I have mentioned it just to highlight why we think it is important for all expectant mothers to go for a dental examination.
Periodontitis is a risk factor in pregnancy
Finally, during the examination, the dentist will check all 5 surfaces of all 32 teeth. Early detection of cavities during the examination will save pain and money. Anyone who has had tooth ache will know how painful that is – really, there’s no pain like it. So, if we can avoid it by simply getting the tooth filled early, you will be a lot happier. The false economy of not spending the €40 euros on an examination is something we, as dentists, see day in and and day out. People often say dentistry is expensive. Well, it is, if you leave your teeth for years! It’s little wonder often, if the teeth haven’t been checked for years, that there is so much treatment needed. Don’t forget, tooth decay is the most prevalent disease in the whole world. More common than cancer. More common than heart disease. When you ask people what the important things in life are, some people say family, some say career, but many also say health. So it’s important not to skimp on the cost of an examination. Think of examinations as insurance against pain and big bills and go to the dentist for an examination.
Checking teeth is equally important in children. Significant morbidity is associated with dental disease in children. I know the Health Board ‘look after’ childrens teeth in Ireland but I hear so many stories from parents that their children’s teeth were never checked. Also, some of the policies that the HSE adopt concerning childrens teeth are questionable and have been well documented. So over all, I would advise that you take your child to your usual dentist who you know, like and trust, so that your child does not miss out on their dental examination.
Look after your children's teeth
