Little-known services dentist’s provide

Check-ups, fillings, or even dreaded root canals may come to mind when you think of common dental procedures.

But your dentist is trained to do much more, and you might be surprised at the range of services available at your local dental office. Here are a few little-known services that your dentist likely offers that might surprise you.

Oral cancer screenings

It’s best to catch cancer early. That’s why your dentist will check for signs of oral cancer as a part of your regular checkup. They’ll look at your lips, tonsils and throat, and inside your mouth at your cheeks, gums, roof or your mouth, and underneath your tongue. If there are any abnormalities, they’ll do a biopsy to confirm if the tissue is cancerous.

Solutions to grinding/clenching

If left untreated, clenching or grinding your teeth can lead to worn, broken, or missing teeth. It can also lead to problems with your jaw, sleep disturbances, and headaches. During a regular check-up, your dentist can determine why you’re clenching or grinding and establish a solution.

TMD jaw therapy

Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD, is a disorder that causes pain in the jaw joint. It can result in chronic headaches and ringing in the ears and is caused by injuries, bad bites, and teeth grinding. Your dentist can screen for the disorder. (It’s often accompanied by swelling on the side of the face as well as clicking, popping or grating when you open and close your mouth.) Your dentist can determine the best treatment if you suffer from this disorder so that you don’t have to live with painful symptoms.

Sleep-disordered breathing

While there are many types of upper airway obstruction, a common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea. This is caused by the relaxed tongue moving backwards at night, resulting in a partial or complete blockage of the airway. Signs of sleep apnea include snoring or pauses followed by choking or gasping sounds. You might be surprised to learn that your dentist can actually help identify sleep-disordered breathing and fix it with a dental appliance.

Now that you’re armed with knowledge, you’ll better know what issues your dentist can assist with during your next dental visit. Specifically, at Dr. Ross’s office, services range from cosmetic to general to preventative and more. So, most likely, no matter your dental need, Dr. Ross will have a solution for you.