HealthX

In low-income communities and impoverished towns across the country, health is a serious issue. There’s disease, obesity, poor nutrition, and serious illness – all at significantly higher rates than in middle and upper-class communities. The only question is, are there reasonable solutions to these problems?

The Connection Between Poverty and Poor Health

It isn’t just jobs and money that members of low-income communities find elusive as they move into adulthood. In many cases, good health is also difficult to come by. Research from countless studies over the years has suggested that Americans in poverty are far more likely to suffer from a variety of chronic health problems – including both physical and mental health issues.

“Poverty’s hash effects on health start before babies are born and pile up throughout their adult lives,” Lisa Esposito writes for U.S. News & World Report. “With stressed-filled homes, shaky nutrition, toxic environments and healthcare gaps of every kind, kids in very low-income families may never catch up when it comes to their health.”

First and foremost, poor health factors in low-income communities have an impact on quality of life. A Gallup report on the topic concluded that the share of adults in poverty with asthma (17.1 percent) and obesity (31.8 percent) is significantly higher than the share of adults not in poverty. People in impoverished communities are also more likely to deal with diabetes, heart attacks, and high blood pressure.

When it comes to mental health, the same Gallup report found that depression has the most significant gap between those in poverty and those not in poverty. While just 15.8 percent of individuals above the poverty line have been diagnosed with depression, nearly 31 percent of those living below the poverty line have.

Quality of life is just part of the story. According to findings published in one medical journal, the life expectancy between the poorest and richest individuals in the United States is between 10 and 15 years.

Whether people want to admit it or not, poverty is figuratively and quite literally a death sentence.

Discovering Solutions and Strategies

While there are hundreds of interconnected factors at play, the health disparities in low-income communities can ultimately be tied back to a lack of access. These neighborhoods simply don’t have access to the same health solutions, experts, and programs that members of upper and middle-class communities do. And while the effects may not be immediately obvious, the long-term ramifications are colossal.

There’s no magic pill that will solve all of the serious health issues in low-income communities, but disciplined solutions – implemented over many years – can make a significant difference. Here are some proposed ideas and strategies:

1. More Accessible Health Experts

Knowledge is power. In most poor communities, there’s a serious lack of access to knowledgeable health experts – and we aren’t just talking about doctors. More community nutritionists in poor neighborhoods, for example, could make a big difference in how people view health-related issues.

“A community nutritionist is an expert in diet and nutrition who works to improve public nutritional habits instead of working one on one with individual clients,” explains an educational institution. “Often they develop programs and policies for institutions that improve nutrition, which can include developing meal plans based on needs, cost and culture, evaluating the impact of the program or policy and reporting the results.”

2. Better Pediatric Care

Unfortunately, many people aren’t given the starts they need as infants and toddlers. As a result, they go on to suffer health issues and conditions that children in higher-income neighborhoods don’t have to confront nearly as often.

In order to change the system, low-income neighborhoods need access to quality pediatric care at a low-cost price point. It needs to be cheap, convenient, and effective in order for real change to occur.

3. Access to Cheaper Healthy Food Options

One of the more alarming trends over the past decade and a half has been the mass exodus of major supermarkets and groceries from poor neighborhoods. Not wanting to deal with high crime rates and less lucrative customer bases, these stores move to higher-income neighborhoods and, unintentionally, leave poorer areas without options for food.

People in low-income areas often live in food deserts where they have nowhere to get fresh food, but have plenty of access to fast food. Naturally, hungry people with empty wallets turn to these establishments for their nutrition. The result is a whole host of long-term health issues.

Incentivizing low-cost supermarkets to return to these markets would provide low-income families with increased access to healthy food options. Combined with the right education on the topic, this could be a catalytic transition for public health.

Achieving a Healthy America

The goal isn’t to completely remove obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and other diseases and conditions from low-income communities and impoverished neighborhoods – that’s an impossible feat. Instead, the objective is to shrink the disparity that exists between social classes. Money and socioeconomic status shouldn’t define a person’s health. We all have a right to enjoy the American Dream – and that begins with a healthy start to life.

Artificial Intelligence-enabled machines are taking over the medical world to aid better access and improved medical treatment. The systems reached a crucial point of development where their capabilities oftentimes match the best of the doctors across the globe. When paired with machine learning, they are learning quicker and faster everyday.

Almost everything from CT scans, MRIs, angiograms to heart surgeries and dental implants, the data captured is becoming digital, helping machines to read and learn from them. Artificial intelligence in medicine enables precision medicines and micro-targeting the right cells with the exact proportion of medicine so its impact is greater. The developments also provide room for personalized medicine – while also giving way for intelligent prosthetics.

Sophia, the humanoid artificial intelligence robot, was developed with the aim of creating a better world for the elderly. The robot, holding Saudi Arabian citizenship, was to cater to the personal needs of senior citizens, thus providing them better access to nursing and healthcare.

What’s more, artificial intelligence’s significance does not just stop with day-to-day healthcare. It’s now moved to transform medical research, clinical developments and importantly, fighting cancer. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 40% of deaths through cancer can be mitigated with the right diagnosis and precision medicine.

Artificial intelligence is now powering better data-driven predictions to forecast if the individual will get cancer, organize the right screenings and adopt the right diagnostic tests. AI’s scope does not stall here. Researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University have mapped a method to use artificial intelligence to interpret medical images that could impact the way doctors approach diseases and dole out treatments.

The researchers behind the study highlighted that almost 80% of treatment is confirmed through medical imaging. With improved imaging machines, hidden patterns that would have otherwise seemed elusive may emerge. A test run for this finding revealed that it was able to predict if an individual will eventually develop osteoarthritis three years in advance, with an accuracy of almost 86%.

With massive progress being clocked by artificial intelligence, a lot of complex and time-consuming tasks for doctors can be taken off their plate. Right now, the need of the hour is to accelerate its adoption as a global effort so its benefits cascade to various geographical zones.

As the social stigma of getting help for your problems has lessened more and more people are seeking out counselling to help them deal with their problems. Some people think that the only way to conquer a fear of driving is with extensive therapy. However, there are a myriad of behavioral or emotional problems that therapy could assist with, such as anxiety or even marriage counselling or just wanting to get yourself performing at your peak through life coaching. This has lead to more and more people seeking out help. But where do you start? What is the best kind of therapy for my particular needs?

First it helps to understand the kinds of therapies that are available. Different types are more effective at certain types of problems. You may opt for some of the less common new therapies such as the Positive Existential Therapy or you my opt for something more conventional like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We will focus on the 3 most common types of therapy and what types of problem they are best at solving.

The first group are the Behavioral Therapies. They focus on cognitions and behaviors. That is, how you think and how you behave. The therapy itself focuses on changing unhelpful thought, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors and developing coping mechanisms to solve problems. It has been found to be helpful in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse and eating disorders.

The next group are Psychoanalytic Therapies. These are therapies related to the unconscious mind. They focus on the unconscious thoughts and perceptions that developed in childhood. This is the classic Hollywood image that most people have when you mention therapy as someone laying on a couch talking about their childhood. It works under the belief that the cause of most psychological problems are conflicts between the conscious and the unconscious mind. The most treatable problems using these techniques include phobias, compulsions, obsessions and sexual dysfunction.

The final group is Humanistic Therapies. This is a late 20th century school of therapy that grew out of a dissatisfaction with Psychoanalytic and Behavioral therapies. It emphasizes self-awareness and mindfulness and takes a more holistic approach by viewing the whole person as being than the sum of their parts. It works on the natural human drive for self actualization and considered a more modern approach that fits in better to our post-industrial society. These therapies are aimed at making you into the best version of yourself through making yourself more self aware. It is the ideal form of therapy for people looking for life coaching or relationship counselling.

With the broad offering of different types of therapy, you should be able to find one that meets your particular needs and that you feel comfortable with. As far as choosing individual counsellors you might try friends that have a good experiences with a therapist in your area or you can speak to your family doctor for a referral to someone they think is good or you can also contact a professional body like the Society for Humanistic Psychology.

Our physical health is at a stage now where it is talked about openly and honestly enough that people feel comfortable getting help for the various physical health issues they may be experiencing, from having to make a doctor appointment to get advice on Pruritus Ani treatment cream, to going to the hospital for the pains caused by various infections. The stigma that surrounded a lot of physical health ailments so long ago has practically been eradicated over time. We now face a similar kind of stigma around mental health – but it is one that is far more severe than the one surrounding physical health ever was. In fact, it is stifling, suffocating.

Mental health is arguably both the most important aspect of health to strengthen, and the most difficult. Important, because mental health correlates a lot of what feels possible in general. When we are struggling mentally, our brains have a tendency to switch off, and physical activity, mental capacity, emotion response…all of it goes out the window and everything is left up to chance and chaos – a dangerous cocktail at the best of times. And more difficult because getting from A to B is not as black and white as it is for most cases of physical health. When we are physically unfit, we can work towards active solutions by exercising and eating healthier. Mental health is harder to correct, it feels darker and more closed in. Thankfully, there are two key ways to combat mental health struggles, and it is important to pay attention to them.

Understand mental health for what it is

First and foremost, understanding that a breach in your mental health is not a breach in sanity or strength, is crucial. No good has ever come of believing that mental health struggles are a result of poor character. The stigma surrounding mental health is, frankly, incredibly damaging. Treating mental health struggles like they are something that can be easily fixed with the switching on and off of a button is irresponsible, illogical, and disappointing (to say the least). If an athlete dislocates their knee, they are not told to just get back up and start running again. A mental strain is no different. Mental health issues are a disease, and should be treated as such – with care, with kindness, and with understanding.

Know the channels available to help – and where to find them

When mental health indicators like anxiety and depression kick in, it can be all-consuming. Over time, the strains become more and more profound to the point that it eventually becomes too much and the individual can lose sight of everything in their life – including the fact that there is nearly always at least one channel, or one person, that is willing to help them clear their way through the fog and back to clarity. As well as friends and family (the obvious channels) there are professional assistance programs and outlets such as support groups, emergency hotlines, hospitals, and psychiatrists. Reaching out is the first step, and the rest follows on from there. Perhaps not easily, and perhaps not without significant setbacks, but the rest will follow. Recognise that it is not a quick journey – like anything else, it will take time, and you will have to learn to be patient with yourself during that journey (and after you have reached the destination).

Although AI and robotics aren’t expected to replace the human intelligence in the healthcare field any time soon, the medical industry is shifting, and the public is willing to embrace it. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study revealed that most of the consumers are ready to get care from the advanced techniques, which are promising to offer even better, faster and more accessible healthcare solutions for everyone.

Artificial intelligence is becoming more sophisticated in performing the tasks that humans do, but more quickly, efficiently and at a reduced cost. The potential for both robotics and AI in medicine is vast, and just like in every other field, robotics and AI are increasingly a part of the healthcare ecosystem.  The medical sector has embraced Artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis through automation, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.

Machine learning for medical diagnostics

According to the Institute of Medicine, diagnostic errors account to about 10% of patient deaths, and also to 6-17% of hospital complications. It’s essential to note that these errors are not attributed to the performance of the physicians; instead, researchers attribute this to:

• Communication gaps among patients, clinicians, and their families
• Inadequate collaboration and integration of health IT, and;
• A work system that does not, by design, efficiently support the diagnostic process

Diagnostic errors may harm patients by delaying or preventing the necessary treatment, offering harmful or unnecessary treatment or leading to financial or psychological repercussions.

Many facilities are striving to streamline their healthcare processes to address these challenges. They are also integrating AI and robotics into their operations to enhance medical diagnostics. In addition to diagnostic procedures like oncology and pathology, AI systems can also play a critical role in therapeutic processes, like in the removal of the gallbladder.

Here are eight ways Artificial Intelligence is transforming the medical care industry:

1. Managing historical records and data of patients

With data analysis forming the foundation for building machine learning and artificial intelligence into the system, data management becomes crucial. AI-powered robots collect, re-format and store data to enable users to access them anytime, securely. This information allows specialists to analyze the trends, study behaviors, anticipate future issues and also make informed decisions.

2. Eliminating repetitive jobs

Artificial intelligence will enable practices to maximize the performance of their staff, by cutting out their need to perform repetitive tasks, like analyzing scans, X-rays, and reports as well as data entry. And the best part is, these systems will take care of these tasks, and will do so in a fast, yet accurate way.

3. Micro-targeting the right treatment

AI systems can sift through millions of data points to select the right treatment plan and suggest customizations that could benefit the patient.

4. Online consultation

There is an increasing number of apps that offer users services such as digital medical consultation based on the individual’s medical history. Most of the apps also come packed with speech recognition tools to simplify the process.

5. Virtual nurses

With the onset of AI, digital nurses have also come into use. The technology helps monitor the patient’s condition, issue alerts if there’s any variation and follow up on treatments.

6. Managing medication

Multiple apps now rely on AI to monitor the use of medicines administered to a patient. Smartphones enabled with these apps access the webcams to make sure that patients are taking the medication on time and confirm their progress.

7. Drug creation

The ample research and studies that go into developing new drugs to fight growing viruses can cost billions. AI programs come with the ability to scan the existing database of medicines and redesign them to fight new infection scares.

The variety of healthcare and medical solutions powered by AI are a significant development in today’s world. Governments and hospitals need to drive more innovation for automating processes and making better decisions.

8. Proactive medical care

In conventional medical care, doctors only treat patients whose problems have been identified. For instance, a patient visits the doctor’s office with particular symptoms, and the doctor performs relevant tests to establish the disease before administering medication. This kind of care is referred to as reactive medical care.

AI has seen a shift in this trend, as it has introduced proactive medical treatment – where the full medical history of the patient is monitored and high-risk markers for different diseases established. Patients who are at risk are then observed for any change in their condition, and if there’s any cause for alarm, then the program recommends medical intervention.

Artificial intelligence is no longer sci-fi; it is here with us, and it’s transforming the medical field. AI is set to be a part of the healthcare ecosystem. AI-based solutions can be used in early detection of infections, diagnosis, decision making, treatments, end of life care, research and training.

Over the years technology has developed ways in which human life can be better. Digital innovation has been seen in all areas including health and wellness. Thanks to technology, people can live healthier lives. Technology allows people to tap into different parts of their health and learn more about it as well as more about how to improve it. There have been digital innovations in health in all areas, including but not limited to skin, fitness, dental hygiene, and mental health. Innovations in health can help people transform their lives for the better. Here are two ways in which technological innovations can be used in creating a holistically improved health and lifestyle.

1. Body:

Internal health directly reflects on one’s physical appearance and this is why humans are attracted to those deemed to be good looking – it is a testament of how healthy and strong they are and will be an ideal candidate to start a family with. However, recent innovations have also created ways to influence appearance positively. There are products that have been developed for skin, hair, and even dental care. Products like HiMirror help people track skin defects and how to fix them. Dental care has seen a lot of innovation as well and products to whiten teeth are now very common, both from a dentist or from an at-home kit. Even the technology of dyeing one’s hair dark is a benchmark of enhancing their appearance and in turn, their vitality.

Mobile applications like 7 Minutes offer workouts under 7 minutes. While it may not seem like much, but studies have shown that just a minute plank a day is able to help speed up metabolism and increase strength. This is especially helpful to those who work in an office and do not have ample time or are too tired to go to the gym.

2. Mind:

It is important to keep a healthy mindset in order to live a healthy life. Over the last few years, the importance of mental health awareness has taken a forefront, diminishing the stigma which has been attached to it for centuries. Meditative benefits have always been mentioned, with more and more leaders across the globe talking about the amazing benefits of meditation and mindset development. There are also applications which can be used to help one achieve peace through meditation, but the more advanced meditators can also use their phones to set reminders to take a break. This is important as the daily routine of an average person is often so chaotic and filled with work and obligations that they leave little to no time to themselves.

Apple has included innovations like Breathe on their smart watches and it will periodically remind the wearer to take time off to breathe or stand. Relaxation through the day is extremely important as it directly influences one’s quality of sleep and sleep is very important in terms of mental wellness. Therefore, technological innovations in sleep have become more highlighted over the years.

Overall, technological innovations have given people a chance to focus on more areas of their health. It has helped people create a healthier lifestyle and to live positively. These health innovations are allowing people to live a more balanced life, and work productively towards a better life.

With the current technological advancements, access to health care services is becoming more and more stress-free. Technology has enabled health care givers to offer their clients remotely thus making their services more convenient, especially to people who require home care. Initially, families had to send their relatives, who required special care, away to nursing homes, which consecutively caused a lot of suffering.

But with the emerging home care services, patients have the choice of remaining at home as they continue to receive the care they need. They no longer have to be separated from their loved ones and sent to new homes with unfamiliar faces. However, families still have to face the challenge of finding the right care givers for their loved ones.

Here are a few tips for picking the right home care providers.

• Research Widely

Just like in any other important venture, one is required to do extensive research on the available care givers before they make the final decision. These people will be spending most of the time with a patient or an elderly person who requires special attention. So, the decision one makes has to be right if not perfect. Luckily, the internet is full of useful information about home care services and the organizations that offer them.

• Reputation and Accreditation

It goes without saying that the best nursing company is the one that has a good reputation and all the necessary accreditations. Therefore, one has to check what other people, especially who have hired similar services from the company, think about it. This can be found in the company’s online reviews. One also has to ask for the company’s operating licenses, certificates and other credentials that prove its ability to render quality nursing services. It is the right of the person hiring the services to have all this information before they put pen to paper.

• Ask for Referrals

This is perhaps one of the most reliable and safest ways to find the right home care provider. By consulting people who have had an experience with the company, it becomes quite easy for one to know what to expect. One can also get suggestions of the most reputable nursing companies in the area, which in turn saves them time and money that they would otherwise spend moving from one company to another.

• Check Cost and Innovations

While there are many other factors that influence the decision one makes when choosing a home care giver, the cost of services offered plays a major role. Quality nursing services are supposed to be affordable but not suspiciously cheap. If the services are too cheap, then they probably don’t meet the required standards. One also needs to check the kind of technologies employed by the company in the delivery of its services. More exciting innovations are emerging every day, making nursing services better. Therefore, any reputable home care provider should be able to incorporate these technologies into their services for better results. Overall, one should scrutinize every aspect of the company they wish to hire before they sign the dotted line.

Medical malpractice is rampant in many countries across the globe. The term ‘medical malpractice’ refers to the problem of negligence or lapse in the treatment of a patient by a doctor which negatively affects the health of the patient. In the name of welfare and betterment of the patient large privately owned hospitals and nursing homes are reaping exorbitant profits by extorting money from the patient relatives. Most private practitioners have a tendency to provide a long list of tests to be done as a precautionary measure in case of simple health issues like fever and cold. In many cases, this is just to reap greater profits. In other cases, medical malpractice results from the carelessness or lack of knowledge of the healthcare personnel responsible. Medical negligence in the legal sense of the terms falls within the category of a personal injury case.

This issue is rampant in developing countries because there are several loopholes in the judiciary system, which allows such malpractices to occur frequently without stern action and remittance. Developed countries like Britain, U.S.A. and Sweden have witnessed a decline in the number of cases claiming medical malpractice as a cause of personal injury.

In India, special consumer courts deal with cases and complaints of medical negligence. There are several sections within the Indian Constitution which deal with the issue in general and specific. The Indian Penal Code or IPC has placed a medical practitioner at a different level from a regular person. Section 304A[10] of the Indian Penal code says that If a person causes a death of a person by engaging in a negligent or rash act that is not equivalent to homicide then the concerned person will be penalized with an imprisonment and/or fine. This means that a doctor who is proven guilty of negligence can be imprisoned or/and fined in India. Healthcare is a service which is provided to people. So, problems of medical negligence also fall within the Consumer Protection Act of India which mentions that the patient can claim compensation if he/she has sustained harm or injury in the course of treatment because of the carelessness of the doctor or the hospital. The Indian civil law is useful when dealing with medical malpractice issues. When the patient suffers permanent damage because of the carelessness of the doctor which cannot be covered under the Consumer Protection Act then the civil law is put to use. The onus in case of civil law is upon the patient to prove negligence.

Medico-legal history of India shows that it is very difficult to prove medical negligence in India. This is because in India in order to prove medical negligence opinion and diagnosis of a case is to be done by medical practitioners who are a part of State Medical Councils. The difficulty here is that majority of the doctors are unwilling to testify against corporate hospitals before a court of law. However, not all is lost, in the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of verdicts, which have recognised the negligence and made provisions for compensating the patient and his family.

Healthcare is considered to be a noble field that is generally considered to be for the welfare of humanity with personal and/or monetary gains to be of least importance. However, gone are the days when people aspired to become doctors just to be of service to man. During recent times, there has increasingly been an urge in members associated with the field of healthcare to draw as much fame and money as they can from each patient they encounter. The medical care required by patients may be dire, but the doctor usually takes recourse in the long route to treatment so as to milk out maximum monetary gain that seems logically possible.

Troubled patients especially senior citizens who have been victims of negligence have increasingly begun to hire legal aid in order to tackle such issues they encounter in the field of healthcare. One increasing cause of concern is the phenomenon of improper treatment meted out at nursing homes. In the field of law there have come to be known specialty lawyers that cater to the specific incidents of negligence at nursing homes. They are the nursing home negligence lawyers.

Though this problem of negligent treatment at nursing homes is more rampant in developing countries, it however, is not an extinct issue in developed countries as well. In the past few years, there have been some rules and laws even that have been passed to this effect. This helps safeguard the consumer’s right to a just and positive medical aid in exchange to the many financial and physical troubles patients especially the elderly have to go through. In India, there are special consumer courts that have been formed to provide legal recourse to those who seek it. There is also the concept of fast-track case; the use of which is determined on examination of how critical the patient’s condition is.

Even after having received medical treatment at nursing homes, many elderly patients complain of stress and anxiety owing to unprofessional staff or services that were rendered at the nursing home. Extensive research and consumer polls have also been undertaken in order to understand and effectively address the problems that appease or disappoint an elderly patient. Reputed healthcare centers and nursing homes are also increasingly trying to incorporate the findings of such research in order to cater to the patients in a satisfactory manner.

In spite of the growing concern in the field of elderly healthcare, it is a common sight to see the rampant malpractices that occur day in and day out due to unsatisfactory medical care. There have also been cases of patients suffering from chronic problems owing to such malpractices. The best recourse for an elderly victim to take as compensation – monetary or otherwise, is to engage legal help. This will ensure justice as well as discourage healthcare providers from engaging in such practices in the future, which will also help other possible victims to receive better; possibly the best medical aid.

Being healthy or the contraction of a medical problem is not in one hands. However, the right to receive proper treatment is every human’s birthright which gets further reinforced with the fact that there are laws and legal aid available to that extent.

Dental hygiene is one of the most commonly neglected areas of general health. Dentists lay great emphasis on maintaining oral hygiene because neglect and poor dental hygiene can cause serious irreparable damage to teeth, gums and serious infections within the body. Teeth not only make us look good and feel confident but also are an important part of the digestive system as the food must be chewed and mixed properly in the mouth before it enters the digestive tract.

Here are a few simple tips which can be followed to maintain a good oral hygiene:

• Since childhood, we are told about the importance of brushing our teeth. But what is more important for a good oral hygiene is to properly brush them so that no bits of food or plaque are allowed to accumulate between the gaps. The correct way of brushing is to gently move the toothbrush in a circular motion to remove anything that may be stuck between the teeth. It is important to brush before going to sleep at night to remove germs and plaque which may have accumulated during the daytime.
• Most people brush their teeth but avoid flossing either because they are in a hurry or because they find it difficult. Flossing is needed to clean the more difficult areas within the mouth. The ready-to-use dental floss is easily available and is simple to use. One can use this to floss their teeth daily.
• Eating healthy is crucial to maintaining dental hygiene especially among children. Parents must avoid giving processed meals to kids regularly as it is mushy, high in sugar and gets stuck between the teeth easily. This can cause cavity, plaque and gingivitis. Children must be encouraged to consume fruits, crunchy vegetables and items low in sugar to exercise the jaws and keep the teeth healthy.
• Water is the best beverage for the human body. It not only keeps the digestive system healthy but also makes the mouth feel fresh and keeps it germ-free by washing off the remains of food that maybe there in the mouth after a meal. Drinking a glass of water after every meal reduces the negative effect of sticky and acidic food on teeth.
• Tongue cleansing is an essential part of maintaining oral hygiene. Plaque accumulates on the tongue over time if it is not removed regularly. This can cause bad breath, loss of taste and infections in the long run. The tongue must be cleaned once a day- this can be done by using a tongue cleaner or simply by brushing the tongue gently after the teeth have been brushed.
• Getting an overall dental check-up done twice a year is vital to ensure good oral hygiene. Dr. Jennifer Silver is a dentist who offers regular dental check-ups that you can avail. During a regular dental check-up, the dentist generally examines the teeth, gums and mouth carefully to look for signs of dental problems. Getting this checkup is important because if you have a dental problem then early detection is crucial to prevent it from aggravating.