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Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth,head, and neck. It most commonly involves the tissue of the lips or tongue. It may also occur on the floor of mouth, roof of mouth, gums, and the cheek lining. Most look very similar under a microscope and are called squamous cell carcinomas. These are cancerous and spread very quickly.

Smoking and other tobacco product use are the cause of 70-80 percent of oral cancers. Heavy alcohol use could also increase the risk for oral cancer. Other factors include chronic irritation, human papilloma virus, and poor dental and oral hygiene. Some oral cancers begin as a white plaque or as a mouth ulcer.

Visual symptoms include a sore, lump, or ulcer. Other symptoms include chewing problems, pain with swallowing, abnormal taste in mouth and speech difficulties.

Tests used to confirm the diagnosis inlude a biopsy and microscopic examination of the area.

Treatment is usually a sugery to remove the tumor. Surgery combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be necessary for larger tumors or if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.

Approximately half of people diagnosed will live more than 5 years after being diagnosed. If found early, before it has spread to other tissues the cure rate is nearly 90%.  Unfortunately 25% of people with oral cancer die because of delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Ankyloglossia or a persistent lingual frenulum is a congenital persistence of tissue which binds the tongue to the floor of the mouth.  When severe, the frenulum should be cut to mobilize the tongue.

A doctor can diagnose this condition during a physical exam. The exam will show that the tongue tissue is attached too far forward.

Surgery is seldom necessary but if it is needed, it involves cutting the abnormally placed tissue. If the child has a mild case of tongue tie, the surgery may be done in the doctor’s office. More severe cases are done in a hospital operating room. A surgical reconstruction procedure called a z-plasty closure may be required to prevent scar tissue formation.

The complications are rare, but recurrence of tongue tie, tongue swelling, bleeding, infection, and damage to the ducts of the salivary glands may occur.

If you are concerned that your child may have tongue tie, have your health care provider examine it during a routine well-baby examination.

I know you’re thinking, yeah, yeah, my dentist and hygienist are always nagging me to floss more.   Is it just so their job will be easier, or is it really that big of a deal?

I did a little research, and studies show that people who floss daily, actually live an average of 6.4 years longer than people who only floss the day before their dental appointment (yes, I’m talking about you.)

Flossing not only reduces your risk of gum disease, but heart disease, too.  So, it turns out that my husband’s new year’s resolution to floss everyday isn’t so weird after all.  I’ve gotta go buy some more floss.

We get dozens of questions every week about how to use gauze after an extraction.  How long do I leave it in?  Can I eat with it in my mouth?  How many days should I use it?  What if I run out?  Should I moisten it in with anything?  I’ve heard of using tea bags, what’s that about?

Here’s the lowdown: the main reason we have patients use gauze is to apply direct pressure to the extraction/surgery site.  Yes, it absorbs blood, too, but bleeding is usually well under control before we allow patients to leave our office.  By folding the gauze (we use 3×3 size) into a small square, it creates enough thickness so that when the gauze is placed directly over the surgical site, it applies pressure to the wound when the patient bites his or her teeth together.  Pressure is the magic word!  Generally, you only need to leave the gauze in place as long as the site is actively oozing or bleeding.  We recommend leaving the gauze in place, with direct biting pressure, for about one hour.  After an hour, remove the gauze and evaluate the surgical site.  In most cases, the surgical site will ooze slowly for several hours and taper off until you won’t need the gauze anymore.  While the site continues to ooze, just change the gauze once per hour.  You may think changing it more often will help, but actually, removing the gauze too often can dislodge a blood clot and start the bleeding up again.  It’s normal for most patients to use gauze for several hours following surgery, but having to use gauze the following day, is not normal.

In addition to evaluating the surgical site when you remove gauze, look at the used gauze pack as well.  If it’s wet with mostly pink fluid and some red, you will likely not need to use gauze for much longer.  (maybe 1 or 2 more one hour cycles)  Many people misinterpret wet, pink gauze for bleeding, when actually, just a little blood mixed with your saliva turns it pink.  If the gauze is competely soaked and dark red all over, you probably have not been applying enough pressure.  In that case, place a new gauze pack, lie down, and bite continuously, without talking or eating for an hour.  If those actions do not decrease the bleeding, you may need to give your surgeon’s office a call.  We always supply our surgical patients with ample gauze, but if you should run out, just call us and you can come and pick up some more.  If that’s not convenient, you can pick up gauze at any drugstore, some grocery stores, or big retailers like Target, Fred Meyer, and Wal Mart.

When you’re ready to eat or drink something, remove the gauze, consume your milkshake, jamba juice, or jello (or whatever sounds tasty), and then place a fresh gauze pack.  Eating or drinking with gauze in place is not a good idea.

We sometimes get questions about tea bags.  Here’s the deal- black tea contains tannic acid, which can aid in clotting.  If you’re having particular difficulty with keeping your bleeding under control, you can moisten a tea bag, wrap it in gauze and bite on it.  In most cases, plain gauze works fine, but if you want to try the tea route, go for it.

As always, if you think something is not normal, or you’re having difficulties with bleeding, or anything else for that matter, just call us.  We’re glad to help you over the phone, and we always have a surgical staff member on call, 24/7.  Hopefully, this clears up some of those gauze mysteries.

Whether you are a young, middle-aged or older adult; whether you need to replace one tooth, several teeth, or all your teeth, there is a dental implant solution for you. With the exception of growing children,dental implants are the solution of choice for people of all ages, even those with the following health concerns:

EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS:  If you can have routine dental treatment, you can generally have an implant placed. While precautions are advisable for certain conditions, patients with such chronic diseases as high blood pressure and diabetes are usually successful candidates for dental implant treatment.

GUM DISEASE or PROBLEM TEETH: Almost all implants placed in patients who have lost their teeth to periodontal disease or decay have been successful.

CURRENTLY WEARING PARTIALS or DENTURES: Implants can replace removable bridges or dentures, or they can be used to stabilize and secure the denture, making it much more comfortable.

SMOKERS: Although smoking lowers the success rate of implants, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of getting them.

BONE LOSS: Bone loss is not uncommon for people who have lost teeth or had periodontal disease. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are trained and experienced in grafting bone to safely and permanently secure the implant.

Implant tooth replacement in children is usually deferred until their jaw growth is complete. There are, however, some  instances when a dental implant may be appropriate, such as when it is part of the child’s orthodontic treatment plan. Your family dentist or orthodontist can guide you in this instance.

LOOK YOUNGER: When you lose your teeth, your jawbone can shrink– making you look older. Implants help stabilize bone levels after tooth loss.

EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT: Like natural teeth, your new teeth are strong, stable, and secure, so you can comfortably eat all your favorite foods.

A LIFE-LONG SOLUTION: Dental Implants are a long-lasting solution- often for life.

A HAPPIER LIFE: Beautiful new teeth can give you back the confidence you may have lost. They can transform your daily life!

Implants have many advantages over dentures, bridges, and other prostheses. Implants will:

*Look and function like natural teeth

*become a permanent part of the mouth, integrated with the surrounding bone

*not slip, move, or irritate gum tissue ( unlike dentures )

*provide patients a secure and stable fit

*restore up to 90% of chewing power lost with missing teeth

*improve the quality of life for a significant number of patients

*give patients more confidence when speaking and chewing

Conclusion:   Dental Implants have many advantages over dentures, bridges, and other prosthetics. Implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth.  Implants give patients a brighter smile, maintain the integrity of the mouth, improve oral health, prevent bone loss and enhance chewing efficiency.  Every patient missing teeth, regardless of age, is a candidate for implants.