Many of us rely upon an annual physical exam, to detect developing health conditions and discuss prevention strategies with our doctors. But a lot can happen in a year’s time.

You might be surprised to know that your dentist or eye care professional can also detect several serious health conditions, even those that seem unrelated to your mouth or eyes. By staggering your check-ups throughout the year, you might stand a better chance at early detection of several chronic health problems.

For example, did you know that a routine eye exam can uncover signs of the following conditions? Each of these conditions produce changes that can be seen within the eyes.

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Thyroid disorders
• Arthritis
• Several types of cancer
• High cholesterol
• Certain tumors
• Multiple sclerosis
• Sickle cell disease
• Early signs that you might be susceptible to a stroke

Your dental health can also indicate concerning symptoms of more serious underlying conditions. During a regular dental exam, your dentist might detect early progression of health problems such as…

• Diabetes
• Leukemia
• Pancreatic cancer
• Oral cancer
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• An oncoming heart attack

In fact, research has shown that over 90 percent of systemic diseases can include symptoms that manifest in your mouth! Your dentist might be the first to notice subtle signs of something going wrong. He or she won’t necessarily diagnose you with one of the above conditions, but will advise you to visit your primary care doctor immediately to conduct further investigation of a concerning oral health symptom.

If your health insurance does not offer coverage for dental and vision care, you can actually add a supplemental policy for this purpose. Contact us to learn more about dental and vision care coverage, and we can match you with a policy that suits your needs.