Did you know that a trip to the dentist could save your life?

Sample News Big

Many of us approach the dental clinic with extreme caution. It’s very common to experience anxiety when sitting in a waiting room listening to the whirring noise of the dreaded drill, but most of us would endure 5 minutes in the chair if we knew it could save our lives. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, you could be putting your health at risk.

When you have a dental check-up, your dentist won’t just have a look at your teeth and gums to check for signs of cavities, infection or gum disease. They can also offer you advice about healthy eating and oral hygiene, help you give up smoking, spot the signs of type 2 diabetes and detect symptoms of oral cancer. Mouth cancer has become increasingly common over the last decade, but survival rates haven’t improved in line with other types of cancer, and this is largely due to cases being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Dentists are trained to spot early indicators and treating cancer early can increase the chances of survival by up to 90 percent.

Dr Zuber Bagasi, from Synergy Dental, which has branches across the North West, referred a patient for further tests after noticing an abnormal growth in a follow-up appointment after implant treatment. The patient was seen within 24 hours and was later diagnosed with an aggressive form of mouth cancer. Fortunately, treatment was successful, and early diagnosis saved the patient’s life. Dr Bagasi’s colleague, Dr Sobocinski, also advised a patient to see their GP after noticing an abnormal mark on her neck during an examination. Tests revealed that the patient had skin cancer and early treatment proved successful.

Next time you’re debating whether to try and get away with leaving that check-up a while longer, don’t hesitate. A trip to the dentist could save your life.

Join this Discussion

Comments are closed.