09 Sep 2013

As oral health remains a challenge in the country, the Dental Therapy Department at the Institute of Health Sciences Therapy in Gaborone will run a series of short oral health articles.

The importance of dental check ups.

Did you know that just like any car model, your mouth structures need regular check-ups and appropriate maintenance? In Botswana, issues dealing with the mouth structures are not of much concern to most people. But one thing we should know as human beings is that our mouth is the window to our overall health and physical appearance.

Does visiting an oral health clinic scare you? 

Do you only go to the dentist when you are in pain or you feel that something is wrong? Did you know that you are supposed to visit the dentist for a general check-up once every six months? 

Many of us don’t visit our dentists as regularly as we probably should because of the fear of pain.  Most people have one question that is always lingering in their minds ‘What is a dental check?’ 

A dental check-up is a process where a professional oral health officer examines your mouth, face and neck structures for any defects and advises you accordingly. Mouth structures are all the teeth, tongue, palate, lips, gums and the soft tissue lining ones inner mouth. Face and neck structures are all the soft and hard tissues around these areas. 

The main purpose of a dental check-up is to identify the structures that have defects early to that treatment and prevention processes can be instituted earlier. We all should remember that ‘Prevention is better cure’. 

During your check-up appointment, your dentist or dental therapist will look at the health of your gums, perform a head and neck examination, check for any problems related to your general health and mouth structures. 

Don’t be surprised if your dentist/ dental therapist also examines your face for swellings and scars, how your teeth bite, salivary glands, lymph nodes and movement of your lower jaw joints.  Upon completion of your examination, your dentist or dental therapist will then make a plan of how all the defects found will be addressed.

For an example, if you were found to have a decayed tooth, you will get an appointment for filling if it can be restored or for extraction if the teeth cannot be restored. 

Every Motswana is encouraged to visit his/her dentist or any nearest oral health clinic across Botswana to appoint for a dental checkup at least twice a year or once every six months. Ends