5 Serious Conditions Your Dentist Can Spot During Dental Exams | Dr. Alex Midtown NYC Cosmetic Dentist

5 Serious Conditions Your Dentist Can Spot During Dental Exams

Dental exams are highly recommended as part of a healthy oral health regime. It is during dental exams that doctors are able to catch dental problems and can take steps to remedy the problems before they have a serious effect. Did you know that there are other serious diseases that your dentist can spot during a routine dental exam? Read on to find out more.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones progressively weaken. As the disease becomes worse, it makes bone fractures more likely, especially those in the hips, the spine, and wrists. Although this condition is not curable, it can be managed and bones can be strengthened through various interventions. Osteoporosis does not cause any visible changes to the teeth structure but your dentist might notice receding gum lines and loosening teeth. This happens because the bone that supports the teeth weakens and thus causes the teeth to become loose. Your dentist may suspect osteoporosis if he or she rules out other causes of the weakening teeth and receding gum line.

Diabetes

Typically, diabetes shows up in a dental exam as a significant reduction in the amount of saliva that a person produces. People typically do not notice the reduction of saliva until they develop problems like bad breath or slow healing of cuts in your mouth but your dentist would probably spot it right away. Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to regulate the blood sugar levels leading to spikes in glucose levels in your blood. Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to other serious complications and even death.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a condition where the digestive tract becomes inflamed. The disease leads to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and if not treated, can lead to life-threatening conditions. During a dental exam, your dentist might spot little raised bumps on the gums. These bumps often are the same as the ones on the affected part of the intestines.  It is likely that these can only be spotted during a dental exam because they are not painful and so most people never know about them until their dentists point them out and ask them to go for further tests.

Heart Disease

This would typically present as gum or periodontal diseases, more so in a patient who does not fit the profile of a typical gum disease patient. This would include someone who brushes regularly or someone who is young. If this is manifested together with other factors such as a history of heart disease in the family and obesity, this would be a red flag to a dentist.

Cancer

There are many different types of cancers but some of the ones that dentists routinely spot during dental examinations are mouth and throat cancers. This is often manifested as discoloration of tissue especially far back in the throat. It could also be in the form of unexplained ulcers in the mouth that are painless and that the affected person might not even notice.

Apart from preventing dental diseases, going for regular dental exams can also help you catch these and other conditions early, allowing you to be able to manage them. If you are looking for an experienced dental practitioner in New York to have your dental exams done, call Dr. Alex Rubinov at (718) 253-0800. His practice specializes in general dentistry among many others.

Book Appointment