Now, more than ever, you must keep teeth and gums healthy. This helps to ensure your immune system stays strong, and your oral and overall health are working in support of one another. The connection between what’s going on inside your mouth and inside your body is something your Woodlands dentist and hygienist have probably already talked about with you.
At our dental offices in The Woodlands, our dental hygienists are so skilled and highly trained that our patients love having their teeth cleaning. We appreciate their hard work and certainly know patients like you do too.
Because of all of the changes in 2020 in terms of how we operate our Woodlands dental offices or health care protocols, like everyone else, dental hygienists have had to adapt to a new normal at the office. It’s a way to become closer to our family of patients through shared experiences and challenges.
Let’s take a look at a couple of the most important reasons you need to see your Woodlands dental hygienist every six months and why we value the services and treatments they provide.
Understanding Your Comprehensive Health History
Registered Dental Hygienist Lesley Harbison writes in this RDH Magazine article that when you sit down and talk to us during your dental checkup, it’s more important than you might think. Not only is this a perfect opportunity to get to know us while we do the same with you, but it’s also a chance for your Woodlands dental hygienist to make any possible connections between issues going on inside your mouth and elsewhere in your body.
Your dental hygienist can even work with your dentist in The Woodlands, primary care provider, therapists, or other health care providers to better understand how systemic conditions and physical or behavioral issues could be related to your oral health. All of this is vital to you, and your smile is in many amazing ways.
Looking Around Inside and Outside of Your Mouth (Could Save Your Life)
Harbison also says that in 2020, it’s estimated that 53,000 Americans received an oropharyngeal (oral) cancer diagnosis. This makes the value of our extraoral and intraoral examinations that your Woodlands dental hygienists and dentists regularly complete could catch cancer early enough to be beat. Every time we visually scan and feel inside and outside of your mouth, you’re getting the gift of expert eyes and extensive education.
While dental hygienists are unable to diagnose oral cancer, you benefit by recognizing your risk factors, letting your Woodlands dentist know what we’ve detected, and sharing the insights with your physician or an oral surgeon. Harbison says to think of your oral cancer screening like this: Patients regularly see their doctor for mammograms, prostate screenings, and PAP smears to find signs of cancer early. Looking for oral cancer and screening for it regularly is just as important to our oral and overall health.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dental hygiene or want to schedule an appointment at our Woodlands dental offices, please contact us right away. All of our Woodlands dental offices are here for you and your family. Contact us today!
Find your ideal Woodlands dentist:
Dr. Leslie Blackburn (Pediatric Dentistry) – Growing Great Grins
Dr. Robert Dernick (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry, and TMJ) – Robert G. Dernick, DDS
Dr. David Epstein (General, Cosmetic Dentistry & Sleep Apnea) – Epstein & Vakil General & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Mike Freeman (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ) – Dr. Mike Freeman Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
Dr. Alisa Reed (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Laser, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ) – Dental Designs by Alisa Reed
Dr. Wade Williams (Orthodontics) – Wade Williams, DDS, MS
Dr. Nikita Vakil ( General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry) – Epstein & Vakil General & Cosmetic Dentistry
