Effects of Tobacco on Oral Health Care
With Periodontal Therapy, evidence suggests healing is slower and prognosis is not as favorable.
Dry Sockets, the loss of the blood clot following an extraction, occurs four times more frequently in smokers than non-smokers.
Smoke irritation
reduces peripheral blood supply, and chemical effects retard oral wound
healing.
34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing one person per hour, 24 hours per day.
(Oral Cancer Foundation)
Only one-half the number of persons diagnosed with oral cancer are alive 5 years after the diagnosis.
(ADA Health Foundation)
Most early signs of oral cancer are painless, and are difficult to detect without a thorough head and neck examination by a dentist or physician.
During a dental examination, your dentist can screen for precancerous changes in the oral tissues. Detecting cancer at an early stage helps increase the success of its treatment.
When oral cancer is not found early, tumors may grow deep into local tissues, and can spread to other parts of the body.
Avoiding high-risk behaviors, including cigarette smoking, cigar smoking, pipe smoking, using smokeless tobacco, and excessive alcohol consumption, is critical in preventing oral cancers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that cancer patients avoid invasive dental procedures while undergoing IV therapy using biphosphonates. There are potential links between the therapy and osteonecrosis of the jaw.
Q & A About Oral Cancer
1. Oral cancer has a lower 5-year survival rate than:
A. Breast cancer B. Prostate cancer
C. Colon cancer D. All three
2. What percentage of oral cancer cases can be cured if detected early?
A. 60% B. 75% C. 90%
3. An early cancerous lesion is:
A. Smaller than 2 cm.
B. 2 – 4 cm.
C. 4 – 6 cm.
4. What percentage of patients could identify an early sign of oral cancer?
A. 50% B. 40% C. 25%
5. What percentage of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma?
A. 75% B. 95% C. 100%
6. Which type of lesion has been shown least likely to represent oral cancer?
A. White lesion
B. Red lesion
C. Red and white lesion
Answers: d,c,a,c,b,a
What to do if a Tooth gets Knocked Out
(Avulsion)
Ø Avoid handling the root
Ø Gently rinse the tooth in tap water if the root is grossly contaminated
Ø Replace the tooth in the socket
Ø Go directly to the dental office
If the tooth cannot be
immediately replanted in the socket, it should be transported in a
suitable
liquid. Milk has been shown to be successful in keeping the tooth viable for
about
three hours. Skim or low-fat is preferred. In decreasing order of
suitability in the absence
of milk, is saline, saliva, and water. Contact
lens solution and Gatorade are NOT suitable
transport liquids.
Mouth Guards
Sports-related
dental injuries occur every day. It is estimated that more than five
million teeth
are knocked out each year through sports injury, accident,
or play. Baseball, softball,
basketball, soccer, martial arts, and even
gymnastics all present risks for oral facial injuries.
According to the National Youth Sports
Foundation for Safety, dental injuries are the most
common type of oral
facial injury sustained during participation in sports, and a majority
of
those are preventable.
The Foundation
reports that an athlete is 70 times more likely to sustain damage to the
teeth
when not wearing a protective mouth guard. There are three types
of mouth guards: the ready-made, or stock mouth guard, the "boil- and-
bite" mouth guard, and the custom mouth guard,
made by your dentist. All
three mouth guards provide protection, but they vary in cost and
comfort. Some athletes object to mouth guard use because they complain
that mouth guards
are uncomfortable, fit poorly, or impairs breathing or
speech. Many of the complaints about
mouth guards are attributable to
improper design or fit and can be easily overcome by a professionally,
custom-made mouth guard.
Oral Piercing
· Oral piercing poses some serious risks because of the high number of bacteria normally found in the mouth.
· The major vessels of the lingual artery and vein are located in the tongue, and if pierced, will bleed excessively.
· Teeth can become chipped or cracked while chewing if the stud in the tongue is accidentally bit down on, or chewed on.
· The jewelry placed in a pierced tongue can work itself loose, and obstruct the airway, become aspirated in the lung, or perforate a bowel or intestine.
· The jewelry can rub against the gums and cause them to recede.
· Keloids, which are large growths of scar tissue, can protrude from the piercing on the top and underside of the tongue.
· Traumatic neuromas (overgrown nerve tissues that develop in response to bodily trauma) can develop, which produce nerve injuries in the tongue.
· Some individual's natural response to tongue piercing is increased salivation. This prolonged or permanent drooling is a response that cannot be consciously controlled, and can be embarrassing.
Senior Oral Care
The most common myth about aging is that tooth loss is inevitable. Tooth loss is the result of oral disease, not the aging process.
Changes in the appearance of the teeth occur with age. These are darkening of the teeth, gingival recession, and occlusal wear.
Many medications can cause xerostomia, which is dry mouth. It presents as dry, smooth, shiny oral mucosa. These medications are: diuretics, anti-histamines, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, anti-arrhythmics, and Anti-Parkinson.
Orthodontics
Having crooked or
crowded teeth is called malocclusion. Proper alignment of teeth and jaws
are
key factors in long-term health. Crowded teeth can be difficult to keep
clean, and that
can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and can be a social
disadvantage.
Over time, an improper
bite can also lead to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces.
Orthodontic treatment
can benefit adults as well as children and teenagers.
INFORMATION FOLLOWING COMPOSITE (White) RESTORATIONS (Fillings)
Children should be observed until the
anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many
children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks or tongues which can cause
serious damage.
Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few days following a dental
restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will
be.
Sensitivity is usually most noticeable the first 12 to 24 hours after the
anesthetic wears off. The gum tissue could have been irritated during the
procedure and may be sore for a few days, together with the injection site.
The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a
different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this
small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days.
Information Following Crown or Bridge Treatment
Following the
first appointment for a crown or bridge procedure, a temporary is usually
placed on the
tooth or teeth involved. This will protect them while the lab
makes the custom restoration.
Temporary crowns are of a universal size and shade, and also serve a
cosmetic function for front teeth.
Your final restoration will be shaped and
shaded better than the temporary, so that it matches your other teeth in
both color and function.
The use of temporary cement is for easy removal on your next appointment. If
your temporary comes off between appointments, slip it back on and call us.
Many crowns fit below the gum line. Therefore, you may experience some
discomfort for a few days due
to the irritation of that area during the
procedures. Sensitivity to cold or pressure is also possible.
After the final cementation of your fixed crown or bridge, it may take a few
days to get used to the new restoration. If you feel the bite is not
balanced properly, be sure and call to reserve time for a simple adjustment.
Proper brushing and flossing is recommended to help you retain your final
restoration. Once a tooth has
a crown or bridge, it can still decay. The
only area which a crowned tooth can decay is at the edge of
the crown, at
the gum line. Good oral hygiene will keep your teeth healthy!
Tooth Whitening Q & A
What is tooth whitening?
It's a process that lightens
discolorations of tooth enamel. The system uses a mild solution held in a
custom-fitted tray that is worn over your teeth.
What causes tooth
discoloration?
There are many causes. The most common
include: aging, consumption of staining substances, such as
coffee, tea, colas, and tobacco, and old fillings.
Who can benefit from tooth
whitening?
The vast majority of people will benefit
from tooth whitening. However, in some cases, treatment
may not be effective. Darker stains, such as those caused by antibiotics,
may take longer to respond
to treatment. The degree of whiteness will vary from patient to patient,
depending on the structure
of the teeth, number of applications, and duration of time the system is
used.
Is the process safe?
YES, it is. Carbamide Peroxide and
Hydrogen Peroxide have been used safely for years in the treatment
of oral soft tissues. Research and clinical studies indicate that whitening
teeth with Carbamide Peroxide
or Hydrogen Peroxide under the supervision of a dentist is safe, and most
dentists consider whitening
the safest cosmetic dental procedure available today.
How does it work?
An impression will be made of your teeth,
which is used to fabricate a custom tray to hold the whitening
gel. At your second visit, the trays will be tried in, and you will be given
the whitening gel and directions
for use. A shade of your current color will also be taken.
How long does it take?
Results are usually seen after the first
application. Maximum results generally occur when the process is continued
for 10-14 days.
Are there any side effects?
Some people experience temporary
increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment. These
symptoms disappear within 1-3 days after discontinuing treatment.
How long do results last?
Dry Mouth
Several common medical conditions can be associated with dry mouth.
These include diabetes, depression, anxiety, hormone changes
(pregnancy or menopause), radiation to the head and/or neck for
cancer treatment, and Sjogren’s Syndrome.
DRUGS WHICH MAY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF DRY MOUTH AND IMPACT YOUR
DENTAL HEALTH
If you don't brush and floss your teeth regularly, you can suffer
from
tooth decay and gum disease. But did you know that long-term use of
certain prescription drugs can cause dry mouth, which also makes you
more susceptible to tooth and gum problems?
Examples of those that can cause problems include:
Antidepressants Antihistamines
Antihypertensives Antispasmodics
Decongestants Muscle relaxants
Tranquilizers
SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
Do you have difficulty swallowing?
Do you sip liquids to help in swallowing dry food?
Do you have any oral soreness or burning?
Talk to your dentist if dry mouth occurs when you are taking
medication on a long-term basis.