Not all dentists are the same…

Your First Oral Health Examination at Future Dental

Did you ever have an appointment for a dental examination and found it only took 5 minutes and you thought “Wow! That was easy. I’m must be in better dental health than I thought.”

And did you also think after your quick cleaning that took only 10-15 minutes that your gums must be really healthy?

You might be surprised to know that a very quick look around and a simple cleaning may not be looking after your over-all general health.

With the cursory glimpse sometimes done, it is common to fail to diagnose potentially life threatening problems. In fact, quite often it is your Dentist or Hygienist who picks up problems that can impact your entire quality and duration of your life. It is widely recognised now that certain problems that originate in the mouth can affect your general health.

For example, did you know that a visit to your dentist for a thorough oral health examination may save you from a fatal heart attack or stroke?

On a quick “check-up” it is common for periodontal disease to go un-diagnosed.

Oral Cancer in Australia forms about 3-5% of all cancers and is rarely detected until it has reached advanced stages when the long term prognosis is very bleak.

A simple thing like snoring may indicate a far more serious problem of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

A comprehensive oral health examination at Future Dental is probably unlike any dental exam you have ever experienced and you will walk away with a far greater understanding of your oral health and how that impacts your over-all health.

How do examinations at Future Dental differ from what you might have already experienced?

You can expect to have the time taken to really get to the bottom of any silent dental conditions that you may have without even feeling you have a problem. We don’t just tell you but show you on our high resolution intra-oral cameras on the TV screen above you. Most people say they have never experienced anything like that previously. We may prescribe various necessary radiographs to help see what the eye cannot see.

We have our own digital radiography units in each room and a digital panoramic machine allows us to have instant access to the diagnosis of any issues. Similarly we also use other unique technologies that facilitate far earlier diagnosis of problems before they become large, painful or expensive to repair.

Early diagnosis leads to minimally invasive or entirely preventative solutions.

Oral cancer early diagnosis using North Queensland’s first Velscope oral cancer screening device, can mean a long and normal life after cancer instead of a 30% 5 year survival as typically occurs with oral cancer.

Moderate to advanced periodontal disease is associated directly with the following conditions:-

• Greater risk of Fatal Heart Attack and Stroke
• Diabetes
• Low birth weight babies
• Pre-mature births
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease including pneumonia
• Greater risk of Breast Cancer in post-menopausal women
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Infective Endo-carditis (a life threatening disease)

Snoring and Sleep Disordered Breathing are pre-cursor signs of and frequently associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, a life-threatening condition related to the back of the airway closing off during sleep resulting in inadequate oxygen supply to the brain during sleep.

It results frequently in:-

• Elevated blood pressure
• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
• Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Morbid Obesity
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Increased risk of a fatal (usually single vehicle) motor vehicle accident or industrial accident
• Reduced work performance
• Lowered libido
• Reduced cognitive ability
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
• Moodiness and confusion
• Morning headache

Gastric Reflux (Heart Burn) or GORD (Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disorder).

You might be aware of occasional heart-burn but Silent Reflux is a very common problem often associated with Sleep Apnoea (OSA).

GORD (GERD in USA) along with Nocturnal Teeth Grinding is often associated with OSA and, in fact, the three co-exist in 96% of the time.

You might not think a bit of reflux is anything to be concerned about, but it does need to be taken seriously. Not only does it account for a lot of tooth decay in age groups when decay is not common, but, and more importantly, it can lead to throat cancer.

Future Dental has the technology in the form of our Velscope Diagnostic Device to determine if acidity from the stomach is reaching the mouth.

If it gets that far, it came via the throat (oesophagus) and is potentially very serious even if you are not getting any symptoms.

It is often associated with a Hiatus Hernia where the top sphincter to the stomach does not seal well and may herniate up through the diaphragm and into your chest.

If this is the case you need to know about it.

These are among the things we investigate in your first examination. As such, your first visit with us may take an hour.

In that time your invoice will reflect the examination, necessary radiographs, periodontal charting and possibly Velscope Oral Cancer Screening.

If you suffer from Headaches, Migraine or TMJ problems, you may also require a full masticatory muscle, TMJ and bite analysis.

You will not get the common 5-10 minute check-up often associated with dentists who are contracted to Private health Insurance Funds at Future Dental.

Not everyone wants to know that much detail and some just want the cheapest job done.There are plenty of other dental offices around that cater for those needs.

If you just expect the job to be done the best way the first time, we are your dental office.

Not all dentists are the same!