The Importance of Dental Visits: Benefits Beyond Just Cleanings

Most people understand the importance of yearly medical exams. While going to see the doctor isn’t always something one looks forward to, it’s seen as a necessity. Because, “what if.” What if there is something wrong? What if there is some unforeseen illness that only a doctor could detect? 

Yearly physicals are an accepted part of life. Because after all, health insurance covers it anyway, right? 

Well, dental insurance and covered exams can provide some of that same insight. 

Seeing a dentist isn’t just about cleanings and inspections for cavities. A trip to the dentist can also help identify issues with overall health as well. More than 120 diseases can be detected by an exam of the mouth and jaw. Dental professionals can spot symptoms during checkups that could indicate serious health problems elsewhere in the body. Nutritional deficiencies, general infections, and systemic diseases may first become apparent in the mouth, and early detection could lead to early treatment or prevention. 

Likewise, if an individual has a specific medical condition, additional dental attention may be warranted and beneficial. Delta Dental’s Evidence-Based Integrated Care Plan (EBICP) provides additional cleanings and/or fluoride treatments for people with certain medical conditions that have oral health implications. 

Some disease management treatments or medications can negatively impact oral health. It is important for dentists to be aware of all medical conditions, and resulting treatments (including medications) to perform a thorough exam, provide proper care, and avoid future, more serious dental complications. 

So while it’s important to see a dentist to make sure teeth are free of plaque, being proactive about your oral health can discover other underlying issues that may have gone undetected. 

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the mouth is the doorway to the body.