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The Importance of Having a Dental Checkup (and Why Escalade Dental Specialist Center Would be the Best Dentistry for It)

The Importance of Having a Dental Checkup (and Why Escalade Dental Specialist Center Would be the Best Dentistry for It)
The Importance of Having a Dental Checkup (and Why Escalade Dental Specialist Center Would be the Best Dentistry for It)

Just recently, the editor of Indonesia Expat had the chance to visit the new clinic premises of Escalade Dental Specialist Center, South Jakarta, and have a dental checkup by one of the most recommended dentists in the city.

Now that we have officially entered the beginning of a new year, it is high time to start visiting a dentist and conducting a dental checkup on our teeth. But why is timing so important? Well, there are several reasons.

Firstly, the previous holiday period was usually the time for most people to indulge in sweets, pastries, cakes, and all kinds of drinks — the type of meals and beverages that would typically leave some stain or put a dent in our teeth’s pristineness. Secondly, perhaps there is no better way to kickstart the new year with a clean and confident smile. After all, even something that might seem trivial such as our dental spotlessness could, in reality, affect our confidence as we return to our respective work or school and catch up with our colleagues and/or peers.

And then, there is the third reason — and perhaps, the most important one as well. As most people might not necessarily be aware of this fact, our teeth condition is, in actuality, also a window to peek into the condition of our entire body. Studies in the past have shown a link between oral health and other medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and even pregnancy problems. For instance, when teeth or gums become infected, the germs that cause the infection in the mouth can spread to other organs. But we could never find out, let alone prevent this harrowing possibility if we did not properly conduct a dental checkup.

And that’s where competent and capable dentistry plays a major role. And by ‘competent and capable dentistry’, I mean Escalade Dental Specialist Center.

Kids Area
Kids Area

I happened to visit Escalade Dental Specialist Center just in time when this dentistry had recently moved to its new address: Satrio Tower, the 13th floor, Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio No. Kav C4, Kuningan, Setiabudi, South Jakarta. The lobby was pristine and white, with that delicately balanced atmosphere between professional and comfy. To my delightful surprise, the dentistry also has a little, yet cosy corner for children who may happen to visit as well. The reception desk greeted me with warmth, and the staff were remarkably friendly so much so that they offered to give me a little tour around their new premise.

Personally, I feel that many adults out there may share my sentiment as well, but I am not actually a big fan of visiting dentistry, in general. In the past, the dentistry that I used to frequent was always grimly lighted and felt somewhat ‘business-like’. Escalade Dental Specialist Center, however, was a far cry from my prior, much depressing experience. The nurses, also known as the dental assistants, were always ready to answer any of my questions. Before the doctor stepped in to take a look at my dental condition, I was ushered into a quiet room in which my current oral state would be photographed, so that I myself would be able to see the state my teeth had come to accurately. The so-called ‘photoshoot’ was surprisingly very fun, much thanks to the dental assistants who were willing to guide me, as well as calm my fidgety nerves, every step of the way.

Dental Photoshoot
Dental Photoshoot

Then, I was ushered into the treatment room, gorgeously overlooking One Satrio and the series of skyscrapers that adorn the iconic Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio. I could easily imagine my fellow salarymen and executives — not to mention, the diplomatic staff who happen to work at the embassies around this iconic street — being likely to stop by Escalade Dental Specialist Center with such ease despite their busy work schedule, largely thanks to this dentistry’s strategic location as well as the scenic comfort. Finally, my doctor entered the room: Drg. Astrid Khatalia, Sp.Pros (whom I endearingly called ‘Doctor Astrid’).

If you happen to be the type of patient who gets easily nervous at dentistry and always has lots of questions (like me), Doctor Astrid would be the right dentist for you. She carefully explained to me why dental checkups, as rudimentary as they might sound, were, are, and will always be important — regardless of our age and/or hectic daily schedule.

“Dental checkups and dental cleanings are needed on average once every six months,” Doctor Astrid warmly explained during my dental checkup. “This also depends on the patient’s diet and lifestyle. If the patient is a smoker or drinks coffee every day, usually he or she needs to have a check-up more than once every six months.”

Furthermore, she explained that, when all is said and done, dental check-up is merely the first step.

Dental Check-up
Dental Check-up

“After the check-up, we would conduct the cleaning so that we could discover whether there’s an issue like caries, cavity, or gum problems,” Doctor Astrid noted. “This is important before these issues lead into a bigger malady. Mostly, patients would visit dentistry once they have the illness. However, checkups could be beneficial as a preventive measure.”

Considering I happen to be a very frequent coffee drinker, Doctor Astrid was also kind enough to give me some tidbits on what to pay attention to.

For coffee drinkers, as well as frequent smokers, the most likely issue that could happen on their teeth is colouring,” she remarked. “There are two types of colouring in this case. Firstly, there is colouring that is intrinsic, meaning that the teeth change colours on the inside. Secondly, there is extrinsic colouring, which means the stain transpired on the outside, also called ‘spots’. That being said, both types of colouring can be cleaned.”

My next question for Doctor Astrid: what would be the ‘red flags’ that suggest that we must have our dental checkup as soon as possible?

She answered, “Well, one of the red flags is when we brush our teeth and start spitting and gurgling, blood comes out instead. The blood may indicate that there is a part of our gums that is inflamed. Gingivitis can be caused by tartar buildup, with tartar being the home of germs as well as bacteria. If left too long, that could lead to gum inflammation, which could lead to bone damage afterwards.”

Another red flag, according to Doctor Astrid, is bad breath.

“Because bad breath may also indicate that there is likely bleeding gums or gingivitis inside the patient’s mouth,” she elaborated.

Doctor Astrid, then, proceeded with the scaling treatment on my teeth. But that’s a story for another time.

Escalade Dental Specialist Center
Escalade Dental Specialist Center

Personally, I felt very much comfortable (not to mention, enlightened) with the dental checkup as provided by Doctor Astrid and her dedicated team here at Escalade Dental Specialist Center. That being said, I also understand that there are lots of expatriates in South Jakarta who may have similar needs as mine when it comes to dental health. Luckily, Escalade Dental Specialist Center is up for all kinds of patients who may knock on their door.

“Expatriates do not need to worry. Our team here at Escalade Dental Specialist Center, including the specialists and the staff, are fluent in English. Thus, our expatriate patients shouldn’t feel nervous or hesitant in consulting their dental needs and issues with us,” Doctor Astrid highlighted as well.

Escalade Dental Specialist Center provides dental care for the whole family. Its services range from adult and child care to orthodontic care. To find out more about Escalade Dental Specialist Center, visit its official website www.escaladedental.com or its Instagram page @escaladedental.

  • Address: Satrio Tower 13th Floor, Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio No.Kav C4, Kuningan, South Jakarta
  • Patient Organiser’s WhatsApp number: +62 878-7513-8040

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