Common Oral Problems: What to Look Out For During an Oral Assessment

Oral health is an important part of overall wellbeing, and it's important to be aware of the common oral problems that can arise. Cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer are some of the most common issues that can be detected during an oral exam. Cavities, which are also known as caries, can appear as brown or discolored spots on the teeth. However, some cavities may be very small or located between two teeth, and may require an X-ray to detect.

It's important to fill cavities quickly in order to prevent further complications. It's also been found that those with family members who work in dentistry have a better understanding of oral health than those without. This study aimed to compare knowledge about oral health between health care and non-health care students, as well as evaluate their respective oral hygiene habits and self-assessments of their own oral health. Surprisingly, the majority of respondents (73.6%) did not know how a permanent tooth avulsed from the mouth could be returned to the oral cavity due to dental trauma.

The fourth part of the study consisted of three questions related to the use of dental services (frequency of visits to the dentist, reason for the last visit, time since the last visit), six questions related to self-assessment of oral health (including number of fillings, teeth extracted, number of teeth treated with endodontics, bleeding gums, dental hypersensitivity and bad breath) and a multiple-choice question about the source of information on oral health (dentist, school, family and friends, media). It was also found that those with a higher knowledge score use oral hygiene products more frequently such as dental floss, interdental brushes and mouthwashes. The diet has a significant impact on the development of tooth decay, dental erosion, periodontitis, oral cancer and other diseases of the soft tissues in the mouth. Having knowledge about oral health is essential for achieving a high level of oral health and related tissues. The objectives of this study were to determine if there is a difference in knowledge about oral health between respondents from different scientific fields and if there is a difference in oral hygiene habits between respondents based on their knowledge of oral health. Inadequate diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and poor oral hygiene practices are some of the most important factors that influence the onset of various oral diseases.

Another limitation of this study was that all data collected was based on self-assessment; a dental exam could objectively assess a person's oral health. In most cases, pathological changes experienced in the mouth are uncomfortable and disfiguring but not life-threatening. Oral cancer screening refers to the identification and treatment of diseases related to the maxillofacial and oral regions. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine knowledge about oral health as well as evaluate oral hygiene habits among health and non-health related students. The vast majority of respondents correctly answered statements such as “Poor oral hygiene can lead to the development of dental caries and periodontitis”; “Oral health is closely related to a person's general health”; and “Adequate oral hygiene can prevent tooth decay and periodontitis” (96.0%, 92.5% and 91.8%, respectively).