Why Oral Health Matters: A Story of Early Detection
One of the key reasons why routine oral care is so important is the opportunity it provides to identify serious conditions like oral cancer, jaw necrosis, and other potentially life-threatening issues before they worsen. During a regular visit, one of our specialists noticed a concerning lesion in a resident’s mouth. The resident had not reported any discomfort, which is often the case with conditions like oral cancer and jaw necrosis, making it even harder to detect without regular care. Upon further examination, it was discovered that the resident had a hole in her lower jaw, large enough to expose the bone. The family was immediately notified and took the resident to an oral surgeon, who diagnosed jaw necrosis. The surgeon explained that if this issue had gone unnoticed, the resident could have lost part of her jaw.
This case highlights the importance of regular, proactive oral care—routine checks can reveal problems that might not be immediately obvious or felt by the resident, saving lives and preventing further complications. It also serves as a reminder that conditions like oral cancer can often be silent until it’s too late, which is why early detection is so critical.
This is why we do what we do. Cases like these motivate us to keep moving forward with our mission to provide the best care possible and to make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.
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