Preventative dental care, especially dental exams, are a crucial component of preventive healthcare, and they can lead to early diagnosis and intervention for a wide range of oral health issues. Here’s how dental exams contribute to early diagnosis:
Regular dental exams, typically recommended every six months, play a crucial role in maintaining optimal oral health. Preventative dental care not only helps diagnose issues early but also allow for timely intervention and preventive measures, ultimately reducing the risk of more extensive and costly dental problems in the future.
Dentists can do so much more for us than find cavities or tell us how to properly brush our teeth! In fact, preventative dental care, especially dental exams, can provide us with detection and early diagnosis for multiple diseases and health issues. Our dentists are really our first line of defense and diagnosis for our overall health and our oral health – which go hand in hand.
According to Nico Geurs, DDS, chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Periodontology, and director of the UAB Dentistry Wellness Clinic…
“Diabetes, leukemia, and immune compromised patients will exhibit oral signs [of disease]. Many times, these are the first outward signs of the disease and a keen eye could facilitate the diagnosis. Oral health is not separate from overall health.”
Learn what The Mayo Clinic has to say about Dental Exams
According to The Mayo Clinic…
“Poor dental health increases the risk of a bacterial infection in the blood stream, which can affect the heart valves. There is also a strong connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and evidence that people with diabetes benefit from periodontal treatment.”
The proof is in the pudding, as they say! A healthy mouth helps contribute to whole body health and vice versa. So, while you may just be brushing and flossing your teeth, you’re also helping the rest of you stay healthy.
Learn More: Early Detection Can Save Your Life: Oral Cancer and Gum Disease
Oftentimes, we don’t even notice some oral health problems unless they cause us pain or discomfort. Maybe we have signs and symptoms of a problem that we never would’ve noticed until later on, when issues have progressed.
Related Article: 11 Things Your Dentist Wants You to Do Differently
The good news is, your dentist can look for multiple signs and symptoms that show signs in our mouths – such as oral cancer, Crohn’s Disease, and other serious health problems. So, when you get your regular dental checkups, you’re doing so much more for your overall health and wellbeing. That goes to show you how amazing preventative dental care is for you and your family!
Learn more about the Preventative Dentistry We Offer for Kids
Bacteria in the mouth cause tooth decay – by feeding on the sugars in the foods and drinks we consume – they leave behind the waste, in the form of a biofilm known as dental plaque.
Our mouths have lots of bacteria that is usually harmless. (Did you know that the bacteria in our body aids with digestion and other biological tasks?) However, if you do not brush or floss regularly, oral bacteria can reach dangerously high levels. When this happens, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections can be the nasty result.
We talk a lot about the early diagnosis of disease during dental exams, here is evidence that the oral bacteria and high level of inflammation associated with the serious gum disease known as periodontitis can play a role in diseases in other parts of the body.
The following health issues and diseases are linked with poor gum health:
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Are you looking for a dentist in Lee’s Summit, MO? Learn more about how GPS Dental Offers Affordable Dental Care.
Nearly all oral diseases don’t cause pain until they are very advanced, so early detection through preventative dental care is key to stopping/helping any health problem. Make sure to see your dentist once every 6 months to stay on top of your overall health and wellbeing. Give us a call today to make your appointment!
If you’re looking for a new dental home, Dr. Caye and his Team at Premier Dental look forward to meeting you during your dental exam and cleaning. Preventative dental care and dental exams can detect signs of disease elsewhere in the body. Experts say infections inside your mouth can cause health problems in other parts of the body and signal diseases such as leukemia and diabetes. You may want to think twice before delaying your dental checkup, as you could be delaying early diagnosis.
Dr. Stephan Caye and his friendly, experienced team at Premier Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the Lee’s Summit, MO area. Our office is conveniently located off of Highway 50 and SE Blue Parkway. We offer appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At Premier Dental, we provide most dental health services, from family and general dentistry to specialty procedures, including dental implants, dentures, endodontic or root canal treatment, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, emergency dental care and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Please call us at (816) 600-6330 to schedule an appointment.
Toothaches, or any kind of ache really, are never fun to experience. We thought we’d take a look at some common dental emergencies and the importance of seeing your dentist if you may be experiencing any toothaches, oral pain or are suffering from a painful dental emergency. Remember, if you’re overdue for a dental appointment, call us today to get that scheduled and stay on top of your oral health, which can help avoid some dental emergencies in the future.
Related Article: Emergency Dental Care: What’s Considered a Dental Emergency?
Not every situation is a painful dental emergency, but it’s important to know when you need to call your dentist right away. If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions:
In general, if you need to stop any major bleeding, pain, or save a tooth – there’s no doubt you’re dealing with a painful dental emergency. Let’s take a look at some of the more common dental emergencies we see.
Related Article: Is Emergency Dental Care Available in Lee’s Summit?
Related Article: Handling Dental Emergencies
Toothaches are tricky — they can feel like a minor tinge or they can cause crippling pain. That’s why we want to share some common toothache causes, their symptoms and when you should seek help from your dentist if you are suffering from a painful dental emergency because of a toothache.
A. Pain or inflammation in or around the tooth, often caused by tooth infection or decay.
A. A toothache can have causes that are not due to underlying disease. Toothache causes may include getting something stuck in between the teeth, flossing, biting into something hard, or braces. Remember, in children, tooth pain is a regular part of the developmental process.
As stated earlier, sometimes accidents just happen and there’s just no telling when! However, because of life’s occasionally unpredictable nature, Dr. Caye and his friendly staff at Premier Dental are ready for almost any type of painful dental emergency! So remember, if you find your plans interrupted by an unexpected and painful dilemma like a broken tooth, give us a call!
Dr. Stephan Caye and his friendly, experienced team at Premier Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the Lee’s Summit, MO area. Our office is conveniently located off of Highway 50 and SE Blue Parkway. We offer appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At Premier Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to specialty procedures, including dental implants, dentures, endodontic or root canal treatment, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, emergency dental care and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Please call us at (816) 600-6330 to schedule an appointment.
We talk a lot about the importance of good oral health and that includes brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist on the regular. Let’s take a deeper dive into brushing, more specifically, the tool you’re using to brush those pearly whites. You might ask yourself, “when’s the last time I changed out my toothbrush?” We often throw away old food, donate clothes, replace beauty products, etc., but adding a change into your routine to replace your toothbrush will have a bigger affect than you might think.
Related Article from The ADA: 8 bad brushing habits to break
Your dental exam can expose and help diagnose Oral Cancer and Gum Disease early …
You know that your dental team keeps your mouth healthy and clean when you schedule your dental exam and cleaning every six months, but did you know that getting regular dental checkups is the most important procedure against oral cancer and gum disease? Your dentist is doing a lot more than just checking up on your smile and making sure you don’t have any cavities. Preventative dentistry can detect early signs of cancer, gum disease, and other major health problems. All in all, preventative dentistry could save your life.
We can help you maximize dental benefits! Did you know that your dental insurance plan will automatically reset on December 31 every year? That date is approaching quickly, so it’s time to start thinking about making the most of your dental benefits before time runs out. Call us today to get your end-of-the-year appointments scheduled and on the books for peace of mind, and to get the most out of the dental insurance you pay for.
Learn More about dental insurance from the American Dental Association: “Use it or Lose it”
This will vary from person to person, depending on what unique services you need to make your oral health 100 percent. Talk with your dentist to determine what services you need to stay healthy. More than likely, a routine dental exam and cleaning is an appointment almost everyone can make before the end of the year – this is a preventive care appointment.
Check over your insurance plan to learn if your insurance covers multiple cleanings every year. If so, make the most of your dental benefits by getting your cleaning in before the holiday-craziness begins and schedules tighten. Also, if you have questions for your dentist or you are curious about the status of your oral health, a routine check-up is the perfect way to learn about your teeth’s health and ask questions.
Appointments can often be categorized into two groupings – preventative and elective services.
Preventative dentistry is all about maintaining oral care and preventing oral health problems down the line. This often includes regular cleanings, regular oral exams, routine x-rays, and a oral cancer screening. Dental insurance plans often fully cover preventative care services and appointments. You can also help maintain your oral health at home by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
Dr. Caye and his team at Premier Dental join dental practices and professionals around the country each September in celebration of National Gum Care Month. Why is gum care so important? Let’s dive in and find out!!
You may not have heard of Periodontal Disease, if you visit your dentist regularly and you haven’t – that’s probably a good sign! Periodontal Disease is also known as Gum Disease and almost 50% of adults have some form it. Here’s the scary part – if left untreated, it can lead to even more serious problems, ranging from tooth loss to heart disease.
Yes … that’s why Gum Care Month is SO IMORTANT!! However, Gum Disease can be prevented!
There are several preventative actions you can take to help avoid the onset of gum disease. We want you to be on the lookout for these tell-tale signs so, we’ve gathered some interesting information and statistics for you as well.
Toothaches, cavities, and other various dental problems can seem to be isolated to just your mouth, but the truth is, your oral health is directly tied to your body’s overall health.
When your mouth is happy and healthy, so is the rest of your body. On the flip side, when a dental problem presents itself, it could affect other systems in your body or could be an indicator of further health problems. Let’s dive more into the connection between oral health and overall health!
Related Article from the American Dental Association (ADA): The Mouth Is A Window Into The Health of The Body
Dear Premier Dental Family,
We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines, including routine dental appointments.
While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.
We’re SMILING because February is National Childrens Dental Health Month and we LOVE our Little Patients!! When you have small kiddos, like we do, it can be overwhelming to make sure you’re doing “all the things” to keep these tiny humans healthy and happy! To take some of the guess work out of this subject, we’re going to focus this blog on some questions about childrens dental health that we, as dental professionals AND parents, can answer.
First, let’s explain what National Childrens Dental Health Month is … it was introduced in the month of February by the American Dental Association as an observance to bring together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their parents, caregivers, teachers and many others.
For us, it’s a great opportunity to promote the benefits of childrens dental health, because developing healthy dental habits at an early age, including brushing and scheduling regular dental visits, helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
We want our patients to have beautiful, healthy smiles and we love to help educate families about their dental health, so let’s get started!
Do you have a toothache, but are a little unsettled at the thought of needing root canal therapy? We can get your questions answered and put you at ease. These are some of the questions we’ve gotten from our patients: What is a root canal? Can I avoid getting a root canal? What are the symptoms? And … will it hurt? (more…)
