Not everyone is thrilled about going to the dentist for a dental examination. Some people are intimated by the sounds dental instruments make, while some may have had a scary dental experience as a child, or an uncomfortable dental procedure, that they feel has scarred them for life as far as dental visits are concerned. There are also people who strongly believe the horrible dental stories they hear from other people, magnifying their indifference to dental procedures.
But what these people should know is that our mouth and teeth are affected in numerous ways as we get older. The production of saliva decreases, reducing protection to the teeth. Saliva counteracts acidity in the oral cavity, decreasing cavity formation. Lesser saliva output would allow cavity-causing bacteria to flourish.
Aging also has an impact on the color and sheen of our teeth. Old fillings break due to deterioration, and gum disease develops. It is estimated that around 30 percent of people over 65 lose all their teeth due to gum disease.
All these concerns can only be detected if we see our dentist for inspection. It is recommended that we visit our dentist for a dental exam twice in a year. Regrettably, only half of the population follows this advice.
What happens during a dental examination?
The dentist performs a visual exam of the patient’s mouth. During this ocular examination, the dentist would search for any abnormalities in the oral cavity including cracked and decayed teeth. He will also search for possible growths and sores on the tongue, palate, and in the mucous membrane.
Modern dental clinics use dental intraoral cameras. An intraoral camera is a small digital camera that is positioned inside the patient’s mouth. The images or videos taken by a dental IOC are displayed on a monitor or TV. This enables you to also see what your doctor can perceive inside your mouth.
However, concealed problems still require the use of dental X-rays especially in areas beneath the gums. Your dentist may also utilize a probing instrument in measuring the depth of pockets in your gums. Searching for dental pockets will aid in determining whether a patient is starting to show some signs of gum disease.
Your dentist would usually determine the best treatment procedure that will be done in case broken fillings, cavities, cracked or decayed teeth, or any other oral abnormalities are found during the dental exam. Your dentist may advise the need to perform dental procedures like crown restoration, tooth extraction, dental filling, root canal therapy, oral prophylaxis, or other treatment depending on their observation throughout the examination.
Your dentist may also recommend proper brushing and flossing techniques if they find that you aren’t serious about your oral health. They may encourage you to use antiseptic gargles. They may also refer you to a periodontist if they find out that you have severe tooth and/or gum disease that is fast developing.
A dental exam can not only disclose dental anomalies and concerns; but it can also prove to be lifesaving to patients who have dangerous diseases that are revealed in the process of examination. Research shows that a routine panoramic dental X-ray used to show gum disease could also help doctors detect heart disease. It can also reveal blockages in the large arteries in the neck, which is an indicator that the person is at risk of heart attack and stroke.