“Frequent visits to the dentist save time and money”

The mouth is the entry point to the digestive and respiratory tract. This includes the relationship between oral health and other diseases. The body’s natural defenses and oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria that can enter our bodies under control. However, not the entire population is aware of its importance.

Jaime Araújo is a dentist, expert in oral surgery, implantology and periodontics. He is the clinical director of Araújo Smart Dental, a clinic from A Coruña with more than 30 years of experience and which is part of the Best Quality Dental Centers, an association of dental clinics in Spain and Portugal that share a fundamental objective: promoting prevention. of dental problems. in the population. In this interview, he provides a panoramic view of oral health.

Returning to classes and work after the holidays usually also requires a series of medical checks. Should we visit the dentist? How often is it advisable to go for a consultation?

The tendency is to go to the dentist only when you have a major dental problem, that is, when there is no other remedy. At Araujo Smart Dental we believe that although the dentist takes care of urgent problems of the oral cavity, it should not be his main function. Frequent visits to the dentist save time and money, because serious diseases that require complex treatments are avoided. We need to change our mentality and go to the dentist twice a year for a check-up and cleaning of the dental plaque that accumulates between the teeth.

In addition, there are various risk factors that need attention as they require more frequent visits to the dentist. People who smoke, who have had many cavities or who do not take care of their diet should visit the dentist more often. The same happens with people suffering from a chronic disease and pregnant women.

And the little ones?

Regarding children, we recommend that you visit the dentist more often. The first check-up at the dentist in children is very important because at these ages changes occur very quickly which must be checked by the pediatric dentist. Our clinic has a specialized area for children named Araujo Kids.

Caries is the most widespread disease in Spain. 95% of the population suffers from it in the world according to WHO. What are we doing wrong?

We take bad care of our teeth and gums. We should brush our teeth every morning when we wake up and every night when we go to bed. It is also highly recommended after eating at noon.

When washing we need to set a time to make sure we do it correctly and effectively. At least a minute and a half will be enough for our teeth to be completely clean.

What are the most common problems you see during consultation?

Currently, the most common problems we treat are the dental and gingival consequences of conditions such as bruxism, occlusal wear, malocclusions or missing teeth.

Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a pathology that occurs when you are awake or asleep. This problem arises when the teeth are tightly clenched. The main consequences of bruxism are unconscious movement and wear of the teeth. These effects can be resolved or mitigated through various procedures.

Is there any disease (in the field of dentistry) that is significantly more important in the Gallic population?

The disorder we see most often is TCM – Craniomandibular Disorder– which is a great unknown, but with great prevalence in our society. It is not a disease as such, but groups together a number of syndromes.

They are patients with pain (headache or headache, neck pain, back pain, masticatory muscle pain) and dysfunction (asymmetrical or blocked jaws, joint noises when chewing, etc.). They are patients with postural problems, usually with a lot of load or stress, and many of them are weak or hypermobile people.

Craniomandibular disorders present a progressive degenerative process, so the longer it takes to diagnose, the more difficult it is to treat.

In everyday life, dental care is essential. What would be the ideal routine we should follow for healthy teeth?

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. wear floss regularly. Visit the dentist regularly for a check-up and cleaning, and tell the dentist about any medical problems you have and medications you take.

Sometimes we get lost with simple questions like How often should we change the brush?

Generally recommended renew your toothbrush every three months to ensure maximum efficiency in removing bacterial plaque (oral biofilm) and food waste. We must monitor the condition of the bristles of our toothbrushes, bristles in bad condition will make our brushing incomplete or even harmful.

What have been the recent relevant advances in the field of dentistry useful to citizens?

In the Dentistry sector, digitalization in dental clinics is on the rise, pursuing the objective of providing greater efficiency, safety and comfort for both the patient and the professional.

3D printing and modeling, the widespread use of scanners or intraoral cameras are already being used. But we can go further with regard to concrete advances.

Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) They reduce the time of procedures, their costs and the errors associated with them. An example is caries detection by analyzing intraoral images.

of robotic technology It is revolutionizing the traditional surgery of dental implants, it is called navigated surgery and at Araujo Smart Dental we have implemented it for several years. It offers several advantages over the traditional method: less invasive procedures are performed and it helps to avoid unnecessary incisions. This also speeds up the recovery of patients.

What is expected or intended to be improved in the future? Will we have more and more dental problems because of our habits or will advances and awareness prevent this?

The global vision of the patient by professionals will be generalized, in which concepts such as health, aesthetics and function will be integrated. The relationship between general health and oral health will be two-way. People with weak immune systems are more likely to be at risk of oral infections. Gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular diseases also affect oral health.

All this, as has happened in any other discipline, will require work teams with different specialties, well coordinated and operating in the same work philosophy. These are the objectives we pursue every day at Araujo Smart Dental.