Nov
Most of us dread the thought of going through a routine dental exam. But
you may not know that your mouth can show symptoms of some of the most
serious of diseases. In a periodic dental exam, a dentist examines more
than just your teeth and gums. In fact, he may examine your throat,
tonsils, palate, breath, and tongue as well. If you put yourself through
a comprehensive oral exam, there’s a possibility that the dentist might
discover signs and symptoms of various diseases and illnesses. For
example, abnormal growth can be an indication of oral cancer while an
acetone odor in your breath could point towards diabetes. So always
remember to give due importance to your routine dental exams because a
dentist like Dr. Cruz can discover more than just your oral health
issues.
If you have never been brave enough to attend any of your periodic
dental exams, it will help if you know the contents of such an
examination. Normally, in a routine dental exam, your dentist will go
through your teeth and gums thoroughly. He or she will carefully look
for signs of decay, illness, damage, or anything else that can hamper
your oral health. During this comprehensive checking process, your
dentist will aim to discover any swollen gums, weak enamels or any
stains and cavities. He or she might also check on the present status of
prior treatments like fillings and crowns. If any problem is
discovered, your dentist will take appropriate action to treat you.
Reading the above should have definitely made you ‘open your eyes’
to the seriousness of periodic oral exams. Remember to never miss them
and always seek the expertise of Dr. Cruz to enjoy not only good oral
health, but also overall health.
Mark A Cruz graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 and started a dental practice in Monarch Beach, CA upon graduation. He has lectured nationally and internationally and is a member of various dental organizations. He was a part-time lecturer at UCLA and a member of the faculty group practice and was past assistant director of the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry. He has served on the National Institute of Health/NIDCR (National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research) Grant review Committee in Washington D.C. as well as on the editorial board for the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (Elsevier) and is currently serving on the DSMB (data safety management board) for the NPBRN (national practice-based research network.