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Oral Health Article - Alberta Quaidoo DDS
...................Besides checking for decay and abnormalities of the teeth and gums, the dentist may be the first to detect systemic ailments that have oral manifestations. The Head and Neck exams performed routinely during dental visits is an excellent screening procedure that is invaluable in the early detection and treatment of cancer and other abnormalities in the Head and Neck regions of our bodies.
Nutritional deficiencies, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal and Eating disorders, certain communicable diseases and immuno-compromised states such as in HIV AIDS, Addison’s disease, and autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren’s Syndrome and Systemic Lupus have oral manifestations that when detected early can play a dynamic role in the overall health and well being of a patient.
Studies show a correlation between gum health and heart disease, pneumonia, ulcers and mortality rate in general. Pregnant women with gum disease are seven and a half times more likely to deliver babies prematurely and are at greater risk for having low birth weight babies. Low birth weight babies are at greater risk for higher rates of mortality, developing early childhood cavities and the list goes on and on.
Dentistry today boasts advances in the accessibility and delivery of care and a trip to the dentist may even be enjoyable, certainly a far cry from the earlier torture chambers of slow speed drills and barber surgeons. Dentistry has evolved from a dull, pain-relieving profession to an exciting esteem-building cosmetic and wellness industry thanks to advances in science and research.
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