La importancia de una revisión dental para prevenir problemas de salud – Lancelot Digital

More than 93,500 people in the Canary Islands have never visited a dentist, according to regional health statistics that highlight a stark divide in preventive dental care across the archipelago. While tens of thousands of residents live without professional oral oversight, dental professionals emphasize that the total absence of pain provides a false sense of security regarding serious dental conditions.

Preventive Dental Campaigns Target Undiagnosed Oral Disease

The Official College of Dentists of Las Palmas launched a public awareness initiative titled “¿Ya toca ir al dentista?” to combat the lack of routine checkups across all life stages, lancelotdigital.com reported. The campaign confronts a widespread tendency among patients to delay dental visits until physical discomfort sets in. Conditions such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and potentially malignant lesions frequently progress without noticeable symptoms during their initial phases. Early detection stops minor issues from developing into complex treatments and remains vital for oral cancer survival rates.

Official data underscore the urgency of these preventive measures. Furthermore, the 2021 Canary Islands Health Survey indicated that 24.52 percent of minors aged three to 15 had never visited a dental clinic. Within the province of Las Palmas specifically, examinations recorded 11,159 children with untreated cavities and 10,713 cases of active gum bleeding.

Screening Programs Reveal Hidden Pathology

The value of proactive clinical examinations emerged clearly during an oral cancer screening campaign conducted by the Las Palmas dental organization in June 2026. Free screenings offered across Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura evaluated 230 participants. Clinicians detected high-risk lesions in three out of every ten examined cases, alongside other abnormalities that had gone entirely unnoticed by the patients themselves.

Francisco Cabrera Panasco, president of the college, stresses that the absence of pain does not equal oral health. Many progressive conditions remain silent until identified through professional dental examination. Regular visits allow practitioners to intervene early when treatment remains straightforward. The campaign advises adults and children to schedule checkups at least once a year, or at intervals determined individually by their dentist.

Essential Guidance Across Every Stage of Life

The outreach initiative provides tailored instructions for specific demographic groups, including infants, children, adolescents, pregnant women, menopausal individuals, older adults, patients with disabilities, and oncology patients. Pediatric guidelines state that a child’s first dental visit should occur when the first tooth erupts or, at the latest, by their first birthday. Temporary milk teeth require active care and treatment just like permanent adult teeth.

The project details how hormonal shifts, aging, chronic illnesses, and multi-medication regimens impact oral tissue. It also stresses that dental examinations remain necessary for individuals who wear full dentures or no longer retain natural teeth. Patients undergoing cancer treatment receive specific recommendations to coordinate dental care before, during, and after oncological therapies.

Warning Signs That Require Immediate Medical Evaluation

Certain physical symptoms demand an immediate appointment without waiting for an annual review. Clinical warning signs include persistent pain, localized tooth sensitivity, frequent gum bleeding, loosening teeth, ongoing dry mouth, or any sore, spot, or lump that fails to resolve within two weeks.