Most people think of their biannual dental visit as a routine cleaning with a quick check for cavities. You sit in the chair, a dental hygienist polishes your teeth, the dentist pokes around for a minute, and afterwards, you’re on your way. But there’s a lot more happening during that appointment, and your dentist is actually conducting a thorough evaluation of your oral and overall health, checking for a range of conditions that go well beyond tooth decay. Here are just a few of the things they’re doing!
1. Screening for Oral Cancer
One of the most important and often overlooked parts of a dental checkup is the oral cancer screening. Oral cancer is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease, and early detection makes an enormous difference in treatment outcomes. Your dentist will examine your lips, gums, tongue, cheeks, the floor of your mouth, and the roof of your mouth for any unusual sores, lumps, white or red patches, or areas that bleed easily. This quick visual and physical exam takes only a couple of minutes but can be genuinely life-saving!
2. Checking for Signs of Gum Disease
Your gums are just as important as your teeth, and your dentist pays close attention to them at every visit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to serious systemic health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and increased risk of stroke. Catching early-stage gum disease during a routine exam ultimately makes treatment far simpler and more effective.
3. Taking All-Important Dental X-Rays
Dental X-rays are a critical diagnostic tool that allows your dentist to see what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. X-rays can reveal decay between teeth, bone loss related to gum disease, impacted teeth, cysts, abscesses, and other abnormalities that are completely invisible to the naked eye. For most adults, bitewing X-rays (used to look at one specific area of your mouth) are taken once a year, and a full set of X-rays every three to five years.
Twice-yearly dental checkups aren’t just about keeping your smile clean, gum disease-free, and cancer-free—they’re also an important part of taking care of your whole body. That said, don’t wait until something starts hurting to go see your dentist; routine preventive visits are always the best investment you can make in your health.
About the Practice
At Crovatto & Edwards Family Dentistry, our team is committed to providing comprehensive preventive dental care to patients throughout Orange Park and the surrounding communities. From routine checkups and cleanings to oral cancer screenings and other types of treatments, we go the extra mile to protect your smile and your overall health. Contact us today or call (904) 272-0800 for more information or to set up an appointment for yourself or a loved one.