Archive for the 'Dental check up' Category

Why must I go for a dental check up? I’ve got no pain.

Published on December 16, 2008 in Dental check up. 5 Comments Tags: , , , .

“I don’t feel any pain, why should I see a dentist?”

That’s the typical response of the busy working adult that puts work, family, food and  every other “necessity” first before their Oral Health and Hygiene.

According to a survey by Singapore Dental Health Foundation (SDHF) and the Singapore Humane Resources Institute (SHRI), having ‘no pain’ was the number one reason Singaporeans gave for not having regular visits to the dentist.

So are we supposed to treat out set of pearly whites like a car that can take much of the beating we give it and only when it breaks down, send it “to the workshop!”

Unlike cars which have replaceable spare parts, our teeth and gums do not have that sense of security that we might perceive and once it’s gone it’s either costly to get it fixed or it might just be too late to salvage.

One of the silent enemies of our teeth is - gum disease. You don’t feel any pain at all until it’s too late. Once you’ve reached that stage, it’s going to be a constant 4 to 6 months of seeing a specialist periodontist to keep it under control, else, gums disease could eventually lead to tooth loss.

Sounds scary? It is!

So how many Singapore adults have some form of gum disease? Health Promotion Board states 81%. Every 4 out of five of your friends have some form of gum disease. That should bump ‘going to see the dentist regularly’ up the priority list for you.

So what’s the Gum disease about? Gum disease is an infection that attacks both the gums and the bone supporting the teeth and in severe cases are the direct causes of tooth loss. Look into the mirror and check if you’ve got the following early signs of gum disease:

  • swollen or puffy gums
  • bleeding from gums
  • red gums (not pale pink, red)
  • ask someone if you’ve got bad breath

or late stages of gum disease:

  • longer looking teeth
    (if you think your teeth are still growing at 30, you’re wrong, the gums are receeding)
  • shifting teeth
  • spaces between teeth (where gums should have been)
  • loosening of teeth
  • pain
  • subtle itchness

Another common problem that can be corrected early is tooth decay. This is also another silent killer as you feel no pain while the decay is happening, not until the decay reaches the nerve will you start to feel any sensation or pain. But the bad news is that by the time that has happened, the decay has passed through your fortified walls of enamel and headed straight for your vital nerves, causing infection along it’s path.

If your excuse of not going to see a dentist is to ’save money’, i hope to knock some ‘cents’ into you. Let’s do some math.

Treatment for simple tooth decay would be cleaning, fillings that would cost around $120, but if the decay has hit the nerve, Root Canal Treatment (RCT) would set you back around $600-800 if done by a specialist Endodontist.

Furthermore, treatment for gum disease could have you undergo a few sessions of ‘deep scaling’ (deep cleaning inside the gumline) that cost $300 per hour if done by a Specialist Periodontist. Compared with a regular cleanings and instructions for proper home care (brushing, flossing or use of mouthrinse)

So it’s a stark ‘penny wise pound foolish’ mindset that needs to be changed.

Hopefully after reading this, you’ll pick up the phone and call your dentist to make an appointment and get your teeth “serviced”. And let it be a bi-annual ritual from now on.

Reasons to Visit the Dentist

Published on June 26, 2008 in Dental check up. 0 Comments Tags: .

Recently, there have been links established that tie bad oral hygiene to heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. For example, periodontitis, or gum disease, has been shown to triple the chances of heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Also, good oral hygiene is known to reduce the incidence of some cardiac infections such as bacterial endocarditis.

The reasons for regular visits to a dentist are unlimited.

The top ten reasons to see a dentist are below. The Top 10

  1. Prevents Oral Cancer According to the American Oral Cancer Society, a person dies from oral cancer in the United States every hour of every day. This is extremely sad because oral cancer is extremely curable if caught early. Whenever a person visits their dentist, they are not only having their teeth cleaned or having x-rays of their teeth taken. They are also being screened for oral cancer at the same time. So while visiting the dentist may not technically prevent oral cancer, it does prevent it from going undetected.
  2. Prevents Gum Disease Gum disease, as was stated earlier, has been linked to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. What easier way is there of preventing these things than brushing your teeth at least twice a day as well as flossing and visiting a dentist? When a person visits the dentist, the dentist can check for signs of gum disease such as inflamed gums or gums that aren’t quite pink along the edges. Gum disease itself is an infection of the gums and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss and decay.
  3. Prevents the Loss of Teeth Visiting the dentist allows the dentist to check to make sure that a person’s teeth are healthy and not cavity infested. If there is something wrong, such as gum disease, the dentist can recommend a treatment plan, generally more brushing and flossing, that can reverse gum disease and prevent tooth loss. If a person has all of their teeth, chewing and overall health are known to be better.
  4. Detects Dental Problems Early Your dentist and hygienist can detect problems early. When problems are detected early, they can be reversed or easily treated. If problems are not detected early, much more serious solutions will be necessary. These serious solutions include root canal, gum surgery, and tooth extractions.
  5. Maintains Good Oral Health Your dentist will compare your current teeth with information recorded during previous visits. If oral hygiene is slacking, the dentist will put you back on the right track. Good oral hygiene is necessary to the prevention of gum disease and cavities.
  6. Prevents Bad Breath Studies have shown that 85% of people that have persistently bad breath have an underlying dental problem that is to blame. Your dentist will be able to identify and then to correct this underlying problem which will then prevent bad breath.
  7. Have a White Smile Your dental hygienist is able to remove the majority of coffee and tobacco stains while in the office. They also polish your teeth to a shine while there which creates a bright, white smile. While not nearly as important as preventing gum disease, this too is an important part of a visit to the dentist because it affects how a person feels.
  8. Maintains Good Physical Health When a person cannot chew correctly due to sore or broken teeth, it affects the body’s ability to digest food is diminished. This leads to less absorption of minerals and other nutrients that are in the food. Overall, having good oral health contributes to good physical health.
  9. Creates a Treatment Plan When your dentist diagnoses a problem with your teeth, they will recommend a treatment plan. This will most likely prevent the problem from getting worse as well as sometimes even reversing the damage.
  10. Use an Insurance Plan A general dentist insurance plan will usually cover the majority of fees associated with a regular cleaning. The plan generally will cover a lot of other fees that are incurred when the dentist is visited. If those aren’t good enough reasons, a person pays for the plan so they may as well use it. Overall, the benefits to visiting a dentist at regular intervals will greatly exceed the costs. It is important for a person’s overall health to visit the dentist. Joe Devine For more information, visit http://www.dentistwausau.com