New Year Resolution! Get a Dental Checkup!

 Happy New Year!  Make your New Year Resolution to be “I do not want to neglect my oral health. I will schedule a dental checkup.”
It is important to see your dentist regularly.  Many studies have shown one’s mouth is the “window to one’s overall health”.  The oral health has shown to affect the general health of the body and has been linked to some heart diseases and cancer.
The bacterium that causes gum disease has been correlated to heart disease and cardio-endocarditis, an infection of the heart.  Untreated gum disease allows those same bacteria to grow uncontrolled. It is very important to go see a dentist so that she/he can perform a thorough exam with x-rays and periodontal measurements in order to diagnose gum health.  Treatments for gum disease can range from deep cleaning, antibiotic treatment, laser treatment or gum surgery and bone grafts.  The level of treatment depends on the severity and progression of the disease.  Many times gum disease does not have outward signs of pain or discomfort and only starts bothering the patient when the disease has progressed beyond simple, non-invasive treatments.
Causes for oral cancer have been linked to tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, and the HPV virus.  Oral cancer is a type of cancer if caught early can be easily treated at the early stages of cancer/lesion.  During a dental exam, a dentist can perform a visual cancer screening and/or use a special light or chemical test to see if there are any early signs of oral cancer.  If there is something suspicious, typically a biopsy of the lesion is taken out and sent to a pathologist and in a few weeks a lab result is received.  Many times, this simple biopsy is all that is needed and the lesion is removed and no more worries.
Many dental insurances start at the beginning of the year and renew the yearly benefits at the start of the New Year. Take advantage of your dental insurance benefits and make your dental appointment for a checkup.  If you were waiting for your yearly benefits to renew, now is the time to make that call.
So, don’t wait any longer, make that dental checkup appointment.
For more information, please call 661-253-0588 and www.tourneyroaddental.com.  The office is located at 27420 Tourney Road, Ste 280 in Valencia.