Medical problems in dentistry

Your oral cavity and your teeth reflect several medical problems that you have. It is very important to understand the fact that regular dental check-ups can help you by the early diagnosis of certain medical conditions which you would never have come to know otherwise.

Few medical conditions are listed below that show oral manifestations. They are-

• Oral cancer
• Diabetes
• HIV/AIDS
• Thyroid problems
• Leukemia
• Anemia- Iron deficiency type
• Eating disorders like Bulimia and anorexia

If you are under any sort of medication, it is your responsibility to inform your dentist regarding it as your treatment plan and drugs that are to be prescribed by your dentist depend on your medical condition. The more you communicate with your dentist, the better your dentist will help you.

Oral Cancer

One of the growing problems in the world is the occurrence of oral cancer. A simple oral examination that is carried out during a routine oral check-up can be life-saver.  Your dentist can detect the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer at an early stage itself and help you manage the disease. The earlier it is managed, the better the prognosis.

Diabetes

The latest studies have revealed that there is a strong link between gum disease and diabetes. Gum diseases can aggravate the symptoms in a diabetic because gum disease can increase blood sugar levels. When the blood sugar level becomes way above the normal limit and stays at that level for a very long period vital organs like kidney, eyes and nerves start degenerating.

On the other hand, diabetics have always been observed to be at an increased risk of developing some or the other oral infection. Hence, oral health maintenance becomes profoundly important in a diabetic.

During your oral check-up your dentist can assess various factors and treat you accordingly. Few of the important findings are –

1. Dental decay
2. Infected or swollen gums
3. Dryness in mouth
4. Oral lesions
5. Presence of any fungal infection
6. See if the process of healing has become late.

HIV/AIDS

In some specific circumstances, a patient comes to know that he is suffering from HIV infection only after an oral check-up is complete. Your dentist can identify certain symptoms that can be seen mostly in HIV infected persons like Kaposi’s sarcoma, oral hairy leukoplakia, oral lesions due to herpes simplex virus (HSV), necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis and candidiasis.

Bulimia & Anorexia Nervosa

Bulimia and anorexia nervosa are eating disorders that can be considered as severe conditions. They are seen to occur in both males and females who are extremely afraid to put on weight. Such people tend to undergo rigorous dieting that might even cost their life. Such medical conditions leave the body deprived of essential nutrients and weaken our immunity system. Bulimia individuals have a habit of eating and then vomiting out the whole stomach content to prevent themselves from gaining weight. When this phenomenon becomes persistent, the stomach acids begin to erode the teeth thereby weakening their structure and integrity.

So, medical conditions like bulimia or diabetes can have deleterious effects on oral health of an individual.