Has Surgery Become Part Of Everyday Dental Hygiene?
Oral diseases are some of the most prevalent on earth. Statistics reported by the WHO indicate that up to 3.5 billion people are currently managing some form of oral health condition, whether that simply be tooth decay or more serious issues. Much can be done by simply following good dental hygiene by regularly brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash, but medical experts are now questioning whether early medical and surgical intervention could be the key to long-term oral health benefits and acts as simple as enjoying good food.
Early intervention
One of the most widely recognized forms of dental intervention is braces. Commonly put into place during the teen years to help correct issues with the alignment of teeth, they can be painful and require a careful diet to help manage pain and keep teeth healthy during the relatively invasive straightening period. A new study, published by Nature, highlights the benefits of even earlier intervention, and how dentists can help to safeguard long-term outcomes by beginning investigations through all stages of the pediatric phase of healthcare.
Tackling long-term trends
The need for preventative dentistry has been shown very clearly over the past 18 months, as PLOS One outlines; the impact on dental health caused by the pandemic has been severe and potentially long-lasting. It has shown the need for rapid and effective treatment of dental conditions long before they can become something causing long-term deterioration or chronic conditions. This has broadened the view of what dentists consider important interventions and included surgical procedures sometimes reserved for further down the line in any single patient’s dental care process.
Preventative care
AI and modern dentistry tools are coming together in a major way, according to NYU. Robotic dentistry is becoming an everyday reality according to their research, and this can be paired with AI recognition of common issues to help remove problems before they become seriously impactful. Spotting errors where perhaps dentists are unable to, either due to fine optical detail or a lack of relevant experience, will create far superior outcomes for patients.
What this all points to is liberalization of what patients should consider basic dental care. Dental surgery and other methods of rectifying common problems are legitimate and not last-ditch methods. They will help patients to retain their oral health and enjoy a balanced and varied diet.
