Friday, March 18, 2016

The Importance of Preventive Dental Care

The health of your smile and body are inter-related. Known as the oral-systemic connection, recent studies have indicated that the health of one entity has a tendency to influence the other. As a result, maintaining a healthy smile though trips to Dr. Lavoger Gies not only helps patients retain their oral health but also ensures that individuals stay healthy as a whole.

Identifying the Oral-Systemic Connection
In recent years, a number of studies have observed that dental conditions often yield health consequences for other parts of the body.

For example, untreated advanced periodontal disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and may also make it more difficult for patients suffering from diabetes to control their condition. Untreated tooth infections provide bacteria with the opportunity to enter the bloodstream and affect vital organs and putting patients at risk of blood poisoning. Even the misalignment of the dentition can have a lasting impact on an individual’s overall health. Overcrowding, overbites, and other alignment conditions can have a domino-like effect on the position of the jaw and, increases the risk of temporomandibular joint disorders such as migraines, bruxism, dizziness, and vision problems.

Health conditions can also yield symptoms that manifest within the mouth. For example, while Chron’s Disease primarily impacts the gastrointestinal tract, oral manifestations of the condition can include cobblestone appearance of the lining within the mouth and gum swelling. Similarly, celiac disease may also cause oral symptoms, including canker sores, geographic tongue, as well as tonsil stones. Additionally, medications being taken for certain health conditions may have oral implications such as dry mouth and dry throat.

Why Preventive Dentistry?
To maintain a healthy smile, patients typically visit the dentist at least twice a year and adopt some form of oral hygiene at home. As a number of conditions manifest themselves orally, these regular visits are critical to identifying potential health issues before they can significantly compromise an individual’s overall health.


During your initial visit at our dental practice, our team utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to monitor the condition of your smile and identify any changes as well as indicators of any health conditions. At our San Antonio office, Dr. Lavoger Gies works closely with other health professionals to ensure patients have access to the appropriate dental care as well as follow-up treatments in the event of a more serious overall health condition. For more information about our comprehensive approach to preventive dentistry, contact our San Antonio dentist today. 

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