Leading London Dentist Issues Warning Over Missed Check-Ups

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A leading London dentist has issued a warning over missed check-ups.

Lack of time, fear of the dentist and forgetfulness are commonly cited reasons for missing routine appointments. Many people many assume that they don’t need to see a dentist if they don’t have any dental pain and their gums are fine, but Dr James Goolnik doesn’t agree. Dr Goolnik stressed the importance of keeping up to date with routine checks, warning patients that missing dental appointments could lead to serious problems down the line.

After just six months, patients could have signs of cavities, which may become more severe with time, turning into larger holes and increasing the risk of dental infections and gum disease. After a year, the risk of gum disease is much higher that it would have been if you had been to the dentist once or twice in the last 12 months. By the time two years have passed since you last saw your dentist, you might have a degree of dental pain, which may be linked to decay or gum disease. If you’ve had gum disease that has been left untreated, there’s a real chance that it could have become more advanced and turned into periodontal disease. This is a severe form of gum disease that causes irreversible damage to the gums and bone tissue beneath. It is the leading cause of premature tooth loss in UK adults.

Dr Goolnik also highlighted the importance of oral cancer screening. When you go for a regular check-up, your dentist will look around your mouth and inside your throat to look for potential warning signs of oral cancer. If signs are detected early, there is a good chance treatment will be successful. Early diagnosis can boost survival rates by up to 90 percent. If you neglect dental appointments, you may notice symptoms of oral cancer until the disease has reached an advanced stage. Warning signs include slow-healing mouth ulcers, abnormal lumps and red or white patches in the mouth.

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