Your biannual dental checkups allow your oral health professional to thoroughly clean your mouth, address problems like cavities in their early stages, and recommend better hygiene practices. However, your dentist may be evaluating a host of other oral health factors without you realizing. Here’s a quick look at what you may not notice your dentist doing during your next checkup.
Checking Your Blood Pressure
It might seem strange that your dentist’s staff would take your blood pressure before a routine dental checkup, but this can provide important treatment data. Noting blood pressure can help the dentist understand what is normal if the patient needs a treatment that requires their heart rate to be monitored. Since most people see their dentists more frequently than their general practitioners, oral health professionals are sometimes the first to detect signs of potentially dangerous cardiovascular issues.
Inspecting Your Soft Tissues
During your dental checkup, your dentist will carefully examine your soft tissues such as your gums, tongue, inner cheeks, and salivary glands for signs of infection and other oral health problems. They will look for issues such as wounds, discoloration, sensitivity, and unusual growths or accumulations, as these can be symptoms of serious conditions. A blocked salivary duct, for example, can lead to nasty infections and leave the teeth inadequately lubricated, which makes them vulnerable to erosion and injury.
Screening For Cancer
Oral cancer is a potentially life-threatening health condition, but early detection is often the best way to achieve a favorable prognosis. During your checkup, your dentist will inspect your mouth for signs of cancer such as open sores that don’t heal and unusually thick patches of tissue. While most dentists are not qualified to diagnose and treat oral cancer, they can refer patients who show concerning symptoms to trusted specialists who can help.
Your regular dental checkup can allow your dentist to detect a vast range of oral and overall health issues. Scheduling your next exam and cleaning can be a positive step for your smile and your general wellbeing.
About the Practice
Lakeland Dental Care provides exemplary oral health services to the people of Jackson. Led by Drs. Bradley J. Malley and Alex S. Abernathy, the staff treats each patient with compassion and courtesy in a warm and friendly office environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To book your next dental checkup, contact the team on the web or dial (601) 981-8166.