Early detection is the key to avoiding costly and painful dental treatment. Prevention begins with the control of plaque and calculus, the main cause of decay and periodontal disease. In fact, the major cause of tooth loss in adults is periodontal disease, which is known as the silent killer of teeth because most patients feel no symptoms until it’s too late. With regular dental visits, we can treat gum disease at an early stage, before it gets out of hand. When cavities are caught and treated early less of the natural tooth structure needs to be removed during treatment allowing the tooth to maintain most of its natural strength.
In this year alone approximately 35,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with oral cancer. When found early oral cancer has a very high survival rate, unfortunately most oral cancer is found as late stage cancer.
Oral cancer screening is a routine part of a dental examination. Regular check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it.