With the seemingly never-ending growth of health care costs that many Americans are facing today, many find themselves skimping on, or avoiding, being checked for what they may deem as minor health care issues. One of these seemingly minor health care issues is that of dental health. Nowadays, more Americans are more likely to visit a psychiatrist or a cardiologist before being seen by a dentist. However, it is not wise to skimp out on going to the dentist, due to the fact that many other health conditions can be caught early just by having regularly scheduled dentist visits.
Periodontitis, also known as gum disease, plays a major role in that of heart disease. Having regular dental checkups can help catch the gum disease, which leads to the prevention of the even more serious heart disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. So, keeping a regular checkup with your local dentist throughout the year can prevent heart disease and promote longer life expectancy.
Along with the prevention of heart disease, going to your dentist, or one of many Lehi dentists, can also help with strengthening the teeth to remain healthy, so that you can keep your teeth longer, which means having a life-long smile. Having a procedure, such as a root canal, can save your teeth. Root canals are done by removing the infected material within the tooth. After you have been given anesthesia to numb the area, then the tooth is replaced with a crown. That way, the dentist will have cleaned up the infection, and you will still be left with a tooth instead of an empty hole.
Some patients may need a less invasive procedure to keep a tooth that has been affected by tooth decay. One other method is that of a filling, which is used to fill in the space that has been affected by tooth decay. Fillings are a pretty common procedure, and you can request to have them in either silver or white to match your teeth. The dentist will remove the elements within the tooth that have decayed, and fill in the cleaned space with the filling of your choice. This procedure is for teeth that are not severely affected by tooth decay, unlike that of a tooth in need of a root canal.
There are times when a tooth just cannot be saved, and that is when your dentist may suggest that you have an extraction carried out on the tooth that has died completely. Extractions are done with a local anesthetic, usually Novacane, to numb the area first. After the area is completely done, the dentist will surgically remove the tooth from its place, and send you home with medication to help ease the pain and stop the swelling of the affected area. This is one of the many procedures that scare potential patients away, but with today’s technology and advances in medicine, it’s nearly painless to have done. You can think of having the bad tooth removed as starting a clean slate with your own teeth.
Having regularly scheduled visits with your local dentist isn’t only important for you, but it is also important for everyone else in your family. From babies to grandparents, (and even great-grandparents!), everyone has a special reason to visit the dentist. Babies that have just celebrated their first tooth will need to see the dentist to prevent cavities and to be sure the teeth are growing in as the should. While on the other hand, older children and adults will need to have regularly scheduled cleanings and x-rays to be sure the teeth are strong and healthy. More adults are receiving braces to have a straighter, more vibrant smile than they already have. Adults who have become more mature in age, may visit the dentist for consultations on things such as implants or dentures, or with concerns about keeping their own teeth intact as they grow older. So think of the dentist as the one pit stop for your family to prevent other serious health problems, like heart disease, that could cost you so much more than your dental visit. You will be glad that you did, and your wallet will thank you as well.
