Dental check-up - the foundation of oral health
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Good oral health makes it easier to recover from surgery
Surgical treatment always causes a stress reaction in the body and recovery from it takes time. To ensure optimal healing and minimise the risk of complications, a dentist should check your oral health before surgery.
Why come for a dental check-up before surgery?
Good oral health is essential for every surgical treatment. Oral infections are not isolated from the rest of the body. Any inflammation in the body slows down recovery from surgery, as the body’s resources are used to defend against the inflammation. Although gingivitis, for example, may be completely asymptomatic, fully inflamed gums are equivalent to a wound the size of a palm.
Treatment of oral infections is particularly important before artificial joint surgery or any other procedure involving the introduction of a foreign body. The mouth is densely vascularised and oral pathogens are transmitted throughout the body via the bloodstream. This allows bacteria to spread remote infections to the surgical site, and they are particularly susceptible to foreign material, such as an artificial joint, that has been implanted during surgery. At worst, an infection may develop on the surface of the foreign body, possibly requiring further surgery.
Book a dental check-up as soon as the decision for the surgery has been made
It is advisable to see a dentist well in advance, preferably as soon as the decision to operate has been made. This will allow time to treat any problems and give your mouth time to recover. For example, tooth extraction should be performed at least two weeks before surgery.
Cavities must be filled and it must also be ensured that there is no gum or root canal inflammation in the mouth, for example. Since many oral problems can be asymptomatic, only a dental check-up by a dentist along with X-rays of the teeth and jaw will reveal the true condition of your mouth.
If surgery is urgent, there is no reason to delay the procedure due to a dental appointment. If you are worried about the matter and you feel symptoms of inflammation in your mouth, for example, you can ask the surgical unit for advice.
A healthy mouth helps you recover faster
It is advisable to book a dental check-up well in advance of any known surgical treatment. This means that many oral problems can be treated in good time, allowing you to focus on recovering from surgery afterwards. Plan for a better recovery and book an appointment for a dental check-up.
Oral care after surgery
A healthy mouth gives your body peace of mind for recovery from surgery. In the best case, any inflammations in the mouth have been treated before surgery, and after surgery, good self-care continues.
Good oral care means:
- brushing teeth twice a day
- interdental cleaning daily
- regular dental check-ups
If it was not possible to go in for a check-up before operation, the check-up is, of course, also useful after the operation.
Oral health has a big impact on other health
Even if you are not going to have surgery, it is always important to take care of your oral health. Oral diseases have been found to be associated with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, memory disorders and reproductive health. Good oral care is an easy act of health.
