Preventative dental care is important for all patients, but those who live with a chronic health condition should consider regular dental visits even more often. Although many have heard this before, it is helpful to understand exactly why this is the case and what might take place during a visit for preventive dental care.
Oral health and general health are often interrelated. Poor oral hygiene can not only affect teeth, gums, and the underlying jaw bone, but it can also have an impact on cardiovascular health, along with impacting other body systems, as well. The following is a review of why preventive dental care is important when dealing with chronic health conditions.
Preventive dental care refers to dental treatments that are performed to reduce the risk of oral health complications developing. It typically includes oral health examinations and services such as dental X-rays, oral cancer screenings, and other tests as necessary. Preventive dental care aims to improve oral health primarily, but it can indirectly benefit a person’s general health, as well. Many patients also find they are happier with the appearance of their smile through preventive dental care as well, although cosmetics are not a focus of preventive dental care.
As mentioned, preventive dental care is designed to prevent oral health concerns from developing. However, patients should also consider preventive dental care to keep good health in general, as well. Oral health issues such as periodontal disease, tooth infections, and oral cancer can affect other conditions that are not directly related to oral health. Through routine checkups, dental cleanings, and other preventive dental services, patients with chronic conditions can reduce the risk of general health concerns in the long term.
A routine checkup is a key part of preventive dental care. During a routine checkup, the dentist asks questions about symptoms the patient experiences and previous medical and dental history, including those related to chronic conditions. Most dentists also conduct an oral examination and order dental X-rays to get a better sense of the patient’s oral health. An oral cancer screening may also be conducted during the visit. Lastly, the dentist (or dental hygienist) cleans the teeth to remove built-up plaque and tartar.
If oral health concerns are detected during a visit for preventive dental care, then the dentist may recommend one of several treatment options, depending on the specific concern. This may include dental fillings, fluoride treatment, antibiotics for oral infections or gum disease, and replacing missing teeth.
If you are interested in preventive dental care to reduce the risk of oral health concerns, then contact us today. We are glad to answer your questions, address concerns you may have, and schedule a time for you to come and see us for a consultation visit.
Are you considering preventive dental care in the Flower Mound area? Get more information at https://drcaffeyearle.com.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Preventative Dental Care in Flower Mound, TX.
Practicing preventive dentistry strategies can help you avoid serious dental problems. It can support your personal goals in keeping your gums and teeth healthy. Prevention is always better than going through treatments for serious dental problems. If you want to know how preventive dentistry can avoid the development of a serious oral problem, here are…
The goal of preventive dentistry is to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy in order to reduce the risk of cavities and other oral health concerns developing. It is a good idea to have a full understanding of how preventive dentistry can protect your smile and what services a dentist may recommend for cavity…
Many dental patients have come to expect X-rays as a part of routine dental care. Once or twice a year, a patient may be asked to undergo this simple procedure that provides pictures of the teeth above and below the gum line. Healthy patients rarely have to think beyond holding still for a moment so that…
A dental checkup involves checking your gums and teeth to look for potential issues. Knowing what procedures to expect can help make the process easier for you. You might want to get an exam every six months. But if you have specific issues, you might need a more detailed exam. Keep reading to learn what…
Restorative dentistry has a handful of ways to go about restoring a broken tooth. It typically comes down to how severely damaged the patient’s tooth is. Restorative dentistry focuses mainly on restoring the function of teeth that have been damaged. Doing so typically improves the way the tooth looks as well.Here are some of the…
Your first visit to a new dental office can be a time of great anxiety, especially since you do not know what to expect. The good news is that going to a new dentist is simple, and by understanding what the first visit will entail, you can make sure you are prepared. The dentist will…