Oral Health Screening
An oral health screening with a Welbeck maxillofacial specialist is used in the early identification and prevention of a wide range of oral conditions.
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What is an oral health screening?
At Welbeck, oral health screenings are performed by our maxillofacial specialists.
An oral health screening is a routine check of the mouth that is done to look for signs of oral disease or other oral conditions. The aim of these screenings is to identify problems before they have progressed in severity so that you can receive curative and preventative treatment and management for the best possible outcomes long term.
What does an oral health screening involve?
Before conducting your screening, your specialist will ask you about your medical history and any concerns or problems you have that you would like them to look at.
They will then perform your oral health screening, which only takes a few minutes. Wearing gloves and using tools just as a dental mirror, your specialist will inspect your tongue, teeth, gums, inside of the cheeks, roof of the mouth and throat. This is non-invasive and won’t cause any pain.
Your consultant may want to take X-rays of your teeth and jaw. This can help them get a clear understanding of the health and position of your teeth and the structure of your jaw.
What does an oral health screening check for?
Oral health screenings help identify a wide range of conditions. They also play a key role in preventing the development of problems in the future that require treatment.
Checking all areas of your mouth, your specialist will be looking for signs of oral problems, including:
- gum disease
- mouth cancer
- poor oral health
- halitosis (bad breath)
- irregular bite
- dental decay, damage and trauma
- abscesses
- impacted teeth
- delayed tooth eruption
Is mouth and gum cancer found during an oral health screening?
Oral cancers are one of the more serious conditions that can be identified during a screening.
It’s particularly important to have regular oral health screenings if you have a family history of mouth or gum cancer, are a smoker, or are affected by other risk factors associated with oral cancer.
Learn more about the risk factors for mouth cancer.
How often should your oral health be checked?
For most patients, we recommend having an oral health screening once every 6 months. If you’re at increased risk of developing any oral conditions, it may be wise to have screenings more often.
You should also book an appointment if you notice any symptoms that could indicate a problem, such as:
- ulcers or sores that have not healed within 3 weeks
- a lump or bump in your mouth
- gum or jaw pain
- loose or damaged teeth
- bad breath
- bleeding after brushing or flossing
- a persistently dry mouth
- difficulty chewing food
At the end of each oral health screening, your Welbeck specialist will advise you on when you should have your next one.
Does a dentist or a doctor perform an oral health screening?
An oral health screening can be performed by a dentist or a doctor, such as one of our maxillofacial specialists.
A doctor-led screening may be most suitable from an overall health perspective as issues such as gum disease have been linked to serious health complications, including heart disease, strokes and dementia.
Why choose Welbeck?
At Welbeck, our maxillofacial specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Book your private consultation
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
FAQs
Why is oral health important?
Good oral hygiene is an important part of personal care and is key to enjoying a healthy life. Caring for your mouth and attending regular oral checks can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, tooth loss and many other oral complaints and conditions.
How can you improve oral health?
Here are some helpful tips to help you care for and improve your oral health:
brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
use dental floss or a special brush at least once a day to clean between your teeth
attend regular oral health screenings to check on the health of your mouth and teeth
have your teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months
choose water over sugary drinks, teas and coffee
eat a well-balanced diet and limit sugary foods
stop smoking
reduce your alcohol intake
What are the 5 most common oral health diseases?
The 5 most common conditions to affect the mouth are tooth decay, gum disease, infectious diseases (such as oral herpes), oral cancers and traumatic injuries (such as tooth loss).
Does oral health impact overall health?
Mounting evidence suggests that poor oral health can be linked to a number of health conditions, including endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and birth complications and pneumonia.