When you see us for a dental check up, it can be hard to imagine all that we can discover about your oral health from a visual screening. Oral cancer is more prevalent than you might think, especially around those who are at risk due to heredity or lifestyle choices such as smoking. Your dentist is trained to recognize the early warning signs associated with various forms of oral cancer. Oral cancers can occur anywhere within or around the mouth and can often be dismissed as being simply a canker sore that won’t heal. In some cases, oral cancers can be present in the mouth without a patient’s knowledge. With early detection, your dentist will be able to take necessary precautions to ensure the timely diagnosis and treatment of an oral cancer. In most cases oral cancer is treatable, but early detection is key.

If you think that your good oral hygiene habits will keep you from needing the dentist, you’re only partially right. Truthfully, even our most diligent patients should be seen for a check up and cleaning regularly. Although brushing and flossing will reduce the likelihood of repair work being required due to decay, everyone should have their teeth examined and professionally cleaned regularly. Teeth have naturally occurring nooks and crannies in their surfaces, and some of these spots are difficult for a patient to see and clean effectively. Assuming that everything is fine could allow unseen decay to progress painfully into the pulp of the tooth before being identified and remedied.

Variations in diet, lifestyle and physiology can impact the degree to which tartar calcifies on the teeth and around the gums. Having tartar removed regularly by a dental professional is key to ensuring that your teeth remain healthy and strong for your entire life. Some areas, behind the front lower teeth for example, are more prone to plaque and tartar buildup due to their proximity to the salivary gland. It is unlikely to find a mouth that doesn’t need at least a small amount of regular scaling to ensure the health of the enamel and the gingival tissue that supports the teeth.

We are equipped with on-site diagnostic imaging to ensure that we get a full view of what is going on in our patient’s teeth below the gumline. A thorough visual of the teeth and gums does not provide sufficient information to ensure that there aren’t any concerns developing under the surface. X-rays help your dentist to make sure that the bone in your jaw is retaining its structure and detect and monitor any degeneration or bone resorption that may be occurring. Additionally, X-rays provide information about the health and placement of tooth roots along the gum line, including any incoming teeth which are preparing to erupt. Cysts and tumors can develop within the gum and jaw that are not able to be assessed without diagnostic imaging.

Your lymphatic system is an integral part of your body’s immune system. Being that the lymphatic system is so closely tied to the body’s ability to fight off intruders, assessing the lymph nodes can give your dentist some clues about your overall systemic health. Dentists are trained to assess the health of the lymphatic systems in the head and neck. Swollen lymph nodes can be an indication of an underlying infection in the jaw, or of systemic problems in other parts of the body.