First and foremost, the college of Dental Surgeons of BC has a bylaw dictating that patients visiting a hygienist must have an exam performed by a dentist within a 365 day period of time.
Besides the fact that the hygienist could lose his or her licence, without a proper exam you are placing yourself at risk.
Your dentist looks for cavities, loose fillings, broken teeth, infection, cancer and other signs of problems that could affect your general health.
Certain medicines can also affect your oral health by making your mouth dry leading to rampant decay.
Signs of poor dental health, like cavities and gum disease, may be related to any of the following:
- Serious infections from untreated plaque and cavities, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseases and low birth weight.
- Depression, low self-esteem, sleeping problems, behavioural and developmental problems in children.
A dental exam takes up only a small portion of your dental hygiene appointment but is crucial and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
