Open wide – a check up could be a lifesaver From cancer to diabetes and even mild strokes, dentists assess much more than just your teeth and gums.
GOING to the dentist to get your teeth checked is actually only part of the story because, while dentists do check up and fix your teeth of course, they can also spot a whole host of other health problems – and these don’t just involve your mouth.
As well as identifying if you’ve got tooth decay or if your gums could do with some extra TLC, dentists can potentially detect warning signs of conditions like cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart problems and anaemia.
“Dental professionals are not just there for when you have a problem or need a filling. During each routine check-up, your dentist will give you a potentially life-saving mouth cancer examination. Early detection is vital for survival and dentists play a vital role in spotting the disease in its early stages,” says Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation.
“Our mouths are a window to the rest of our body. They are a good indicator of the health of a person, but also what problems they may be at risk of developing,” Dr Carter adds.
“It’s important to maintain regular visits with your dental team – it can have an impact on your whole body, not just the health of your mouth.”
And assessments can begin as soon as a patient enters the surgery, notes Dr Neil Banton, a dentist at Bupa Dental Care. “By using sight, sound and smell, dentists are in a prime position to spot health conditions in the rest of the body and inform patients before they’d have an opportunity to raise them with their doctor. What’s more, dentists who’ve built long-term patient relationships are even more likely to spot changes in patient health – I’ve been treating some of my patients for more than 20 years,” Dr Banton adds, “so I often notice things like rapid weight-loss or changes in speech.”
Here, Dr Banton outlines what health conditions a dentist can spot during each stage of the dental appointment...
LISA SALMON
arthritis, or if a patient appears agitated it could suggest they’re in a lot of pain.
“I also look out for slurred speech or a croaky voice, as these may potentially be the result of nerve damage to the vocal cords, cancer, or a minor stroke.
“Speech problems can also indicate someone may suffer from dry mouth, which can be a result of not drinking enough fluids, causing a lack of saliva. This is a common symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome, a disease of the salivary glands. In rare cases, dry mouth can show in people who are malnourished or alcoholic.
“Many medications can also cause a dry mouth, inflammation of the gums, or altered taste. Some medications may, as side-effects, cause confusion, drowsiness, or dehydration – particularly in elderly patients, which can all affect the provision of dental treatment.
“And all medication, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, has side-effects, such as potentially increasing the risk of bleeding after an extraction.
“This is why dentists ask you to complete a medical history form and repeat the process frequently, and why you must say if you’re taking something new, different, or have stopped taking it.”