You must have constantly heard about dental exams and screenings, but you wonder if you actually need these regular checkups. You see, developing correct and healthy oral habits entails scheduling regular dental appointments with your dentist, not only when you have a dental problem that needs to be addressed.
Preventing dental issues is always better than needing extensive dental treatments, which is why maintaining regular dental visits is essential. Integrative Holistic Dentistry recommends scheduling regular dental examinations and screenings in Chapel Hill, NC, to diagnose and identify potential dental issues at their early stages and prevent them from progressing into more costly and severe conditions.
This Dental Smiles’ month, our dentists in Chapel Hill, near Raleigh, NC, Dr. Mensah and Dr. Thomas, have explained why regular dental exams and screenings are essential for maintaining healthy oral health and overall well-being.
What is Dental Screening?
Dental screening, commonly called oral health screening, is a visual inspection of the mouth to assess oral conditions that can affect one's dental health. It can be performed manually or with a dental x-ray to identify oral diseases.
Typically, dental screenings in Chapel Hill near Raleigh, NC, are aimed to check for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in the mouth. However, an oral examination also looks for other dental conditions such as abscesses, premature tooth loss, plaque and tartar formation, and dental traumas.
What to Expect at a Screening
When you come in for an oral screening at our dental office in Chapel Hill, our goal is to identify symptoms of potential oral conditions early and oral cancer symptoms, especially when the chances of treating them are greater.
Dental screenings don’t take much time, and a quick dental screening can tell us if there are concerns that need our immediate attention. We would examine your lips, tongue, teeth, gums, the root of the mouth, throat, and the inside of the cheeks. Our dentists will also look for red or white patches or mouth sores.
Many factors can increase the risk of oral cancer, including:
Heavy alcohol use
The use of tobacco of any type, including cigars, cigarettes, snuff, and pipes
Increased risk of lip cancer due to a history of significant sun exposure
Previous oral cancer diagnosis
If we discover any potential threats to your dental health after the examination, we will discuss and offer you the necessary treatments to tackle the issue early.
What Can Be Found in a Dental Exam or Screening?
During a dental exam or screening, our dentists in Chapel Hill, Dr. Mensah, and Dr. Thomas, may discover specific threats to your oral health and perform the necessary procedures to eliminate them. Some of the oral conditions that may be found in a dental exam or screening include:
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can pose a significant threat to an individual's life if it isn't detected and treated early. During your routine checkup at our dental office, our dentists will examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer.
They may look out for sores that aren't healing, abnormal growths, or white or red patches in your mouth. Through regular dental examination and screening, signs of oral cancer can be identified early, which significantly increases the chances of a successful treatment.
Gum Disease
Bacteria buildup on teeth can irritate gum tissue, causing it to become discordant, inflamed, soft, and painful to touch. Gingivitis is a common and mild kind of gum disease that can be detected during routine dental cleanings and checkups.
Most cases of gingivitis can be treated by maintaining good oral hygiene practices. However, when left untreated, it can develop into a more severe type of gum disease called periodontitis, which requires advanced treatment options. This is why visiting the dentist for dental exams and screenings is essential.
Damaged Teeth
Tooth decay and the numerous stresses and strains our teeth withstand can damage them in the long run. Eating hard foods, mouth injuries during sports, untreated cavities, and facial injuries after an accident can cause the teeth to chip, crack, or even break. Conducting dental screenings and examinations will enable us to identify these issues and address them with the most suitable dental treatments.
The Holistic Approach
Integrative Holistic Dentistry incorporates alternative dentistry practices to determine the root cause of your oral health conditions rather than concentrating solely on the symptoms. If issues are discovered during and after your dental screening, we utilize biocompatible mediums to treat them.
Our holistic approach also includes how changes in your nutrition can help prevent and reverse degenerative dental conditions and prevent and treat malocclusions and periodontal diseases at their biological level. Our approach to dentistry creates a whole new dental experience for our patients. You shouldn't hesitate to come in for a routine examination and screening at our dental office.
Dental Screening in Chapel Hill near Raleigh
Maintaining good dental hygiene, such as brushing twice or thrice daily, flossing regularly, consuming less sugary and acidic foods, and eliminating smoking from your lifestyle, can help you attain healthy oral conditions. However, some dental issues can occur as a result of plaque and tartar buildup in the teeth, which regular brushing and flossing are unable to eliminate. Dental screenings at the dentist can help identify these issues and remove them before they become more complicated.
Our dentists offer dental exams and screenings in Chapel Hill near Raleigh, NC, to help identify dental issues early on and prevent them from progressing into costly and severe conditions. Schedule an appointment with us today to check your oral health and ensure your healthy smile is maintained.