County Government of Laikipia

When was the last time you made a visit to the dentist?

Not many people fancy the idea of a trip, unless it is the last option... in this case, seeking to have a bad tooth extracted to end the unbearable pain.

In over 80 percent of patients visiting LHS Nanyuki, the dental section come for tooth extraction.

According to Chief Oral Health Officer Jotham Mboroki, these are patients who have a toothache and opt for tooth removal as the last resort to save them the pain.

Less than 10 percent of the clients come for checkups and cleaning. Ideally, it should be the other way around; more clients coming for checkups than those seeking the last treatment option.

Like in many other departments, pain brings most of our clients here. Mr. Mboroki observes. It is not the best way to seek dental care.

Regular dental and oral health checkups have far-reaching benefits than what we may know. The continued rise in teeth ailments in communities is a result of a gradual lapse in oral health education at the community level.

In particular, the shift in focus from oral health education as a primary healthcare effort is impacting the population's general oral health.

The mouth is the doorway to your body. The status of one's mouth can tell us so much more about the body than many people would think. he explains, adding that some diseases manifesting in the mouth could tell of underlying health issues that can easily be picked up by a simple oral and dental checkups.

Teeth are the body's early warning system. A visit to the dentist at least twice a year can help detect diseases early enough. Gum disease, for example, could hint at the possibility of one suffering from diabetes. Advanced gum disease is a possible lead to the patient suffering from diabetes even when they may not be aware.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing gum disease than those without. Gum disease has been found to worsen diabetes.

It is also possible to pick the presence of oral cancer through early checkups, adding the benefits of regular examinations. Loose teeth, mouth pain, sore lip, or mouth could be indicative early signs of oral cancer.

Oral exam

A healthcare provider is able to pick out syphilis from an oral exam. The presence of lesions on the tongue, lips, gums, and dental defects could be indicative of secondary syphilis infection.

Other body ailments that could manifest in the mouth, or be linked to poor oral health include heart and kidney complications.

Interestingly, something like periodontal disease can actually have a dangerous effect on the heart, as some of the bacteria from the mouth can get into the bloodstream. This can lead to the buildup of plaque and cause the arteries to harden. This complication raises the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Similarly, the bacteria can also go to the lungs, causing pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and other respiratory complications.

Pale and thin gums could be a reason for a healthcare provider to suspect the manifestation of anemia in the body.

Broken Jaw

A visit to the dentist is helpful in picking out bulimia displayed by thin weak enamel.

The benefits of regular dental and oral examinations on general health are endless, and so is proper oral hygiene. Mboroki explains.

LHS Nanyuki offers the following service: dental checkups and extraction, intermaxillary fixation (repair of the broken lower jaw), splinting to firm up loose teeth.

Others include dental emergency attention including abscess draining, medication, admission, and monitoring. Patients with missing teeth can benefit from tooth replacements, like dental fillings and specialized root canal treatment for teeth that are beyond repair.

You could also benefit from full mouth scaling and polishing to remove tartar, as well as teeth alignments to return that perfect smile.