After 15 years as a dentist, I have noticed that people think dentistry is only about teeth and gums.
While the central part of our job is diagnosing and treating ailments of the oral cavity, we also look for signs of other diseases during your oral exam.
Yes, during a dental exam, we will ask you to lie back, call out several numbers, and use words like buccal, posterior, lingual, etc., which will seem like we are talking another language (which, I guess, to an extent, we are). This part of the exam is all about the teeth; then you will notice we will start saying things like crenation of the lateral borders of the tongue, or floor of mouth screened and clear. These words indicate that we are now assessing for oral manifestations of systemic disease. We are also looking for cancer, which, unfortunately, one of my colleagues just recently discovered a squamous cell carcinoma in a patient’s mouth just two months ago. This client is now undergoing treatment, which will hopefully save their life.
I know this sounds gross, but we are also smelling your breath. And no, it’s not to see if you brushed your teeth before coming to see us. The smell of a person’s breath can give us insight into their health. Believe it or not, people who have anorexia, bulimia, and uncontrolled diabetes all have a distinctive fruity smell, which is evident during a dental visit. When your dentist notices this during an exam, we will encourage you to seek medical advice and treatment.
Several body diseases and illnesses show early manifestations in the mouth. Patients presenting with recurrent periodontal (gum) abscesses may be showing early signs of leukemia or diabetes. Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases like lupus and Crohn’s, and silent reflux can not be hidden from a dentist’s scrutiny. All of these conditions have oral signs. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to loose teeth (think scurvy and pirates with no teeth); Crohn’s disease and silent reflux appear as unusual wear patterns on the backs of the teeth.
In Australia, healthdirect.gov.au recommends seeing your dentist once every six months and for children within six months of getting their first tooth. So, if you are due or overdue for your dental checkup, remember that we will be checking your teeth. Still, we are also looking into your overall health. Regular dental checks and cleans are a very healthy habit to get into.
And yes, we will be asking you when the last time you flossed was. We would love to hear you say every day, doc, but we understand that, more than likely, your answer will be, “Well, you should remember, doc, because you were the last person to do it“.
Happy Oral Health Week, and happy brushing and flossing to keep happy and healthy teeth.
To book an appointment visit eumundidental.com.au or call (07) 5442 7556.
