When a patient has routine dental check-ups they can reduce their chances of dental pain and the financial burdens associated with complicated and severe forms of dental disease. An example of dental disease is periodontal disease that may go unnoticed by a lack of routine dental visits. This can progress into tooth loss and pain, but if caught early is easier to arrest and manage.
Routine dental visits allow a dental professional to screen for oral cancers and other underlying health issues. Check-ups allow us to keep up with changes in a patient's systemic health status. It is very important to educate paitents of the correlation between periodontal disease and other systemic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Persons with periodontal disease are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases than individuals without periodontal issues. The link between the two diseases suggest that the same bacteria that is associated with periodontal disease can contribute to heart disease and stroke. In the diabetic patient, a high blood glucose level helps bacteria grow in the oral cavity. This bacteria growth can make tooth and gum problems worse. Diabetics are 3 times more likely to develop periodontal disease than the non-diabetics person.
It is also important to recognize the effects that medications can have on a persons oral health. Oral conditions such as dry mouth, sores, inflammation and elevated levels of plaque can all be contributed to medications. Your teeth and gums say a mouthful, so routine dental visits are important for a patients overall health.
Dr. Kim Owen
Mortenson Family Dental Hillview
5201 Commerce Crossing Drive
Louisville, KY 40229
502-966-8160
www.mortensonfamilydental.com
