These problems interfere with cancer treatment and affect quality of life. Many Americans today enjoy excellent oral health and are keeping their natural teeth throughout their lives. Poor nutrition has an ever-widening detrimental They’ll look at your lips, jaws, cheek lining, gums, the front part of your tongue, the floor of your mouth beneath your tongue, the hard palate that makes up the roof of your mouth and your throat. Those who are newly diagnosed with cancer seeking treatment should visit an experienced dentist handling cancer patients immediately. Seat the trays on the upper and lower teeth and let them remain in place for 5 minutes. Dr. Chow and the entire staff at Model Smile Dentistry practice special protocols when a patient is being treated for cancer. Your dentist should be in contact with your oncologist to coordinate care. Dental Health Linked To Cancer. Only a small amount of fluoride should come out of the base of the trays when they are placed, otherwise, there may be too much fluoride in the trays. Head and neck radiation, chemotherapy, and blood and marrow transplantation can cause issues ranging from dry mouth to life-threatening infections. Web Design & Internet Marketing by Studio III. Pretreatment oral care achieves the following: With a pretreatment oral evaluation, the dental team can identify and treat problems such as infection, fractured teeth or restorations, or periodontal disease that could contribute to oral complications when cancer therapy begins. The evaluation also establishes baseline data for comparing the patient’s status in subsequent examinations. One of my long-term patients presented in my chair with a letter from an "oncology dental hygienist" that informed us of his recent radiation treatment for head-and-neck cancer, and his special dental needs and concerns for lifelong treatment. We are an integral part of helping patients take care of their oral health before, during and after cancer treatment. Learn about causes, symptoms, treatment. Persistent dry mouth increases the risk for dental caries. Your mouth health is an important part of your overall health, so make your dentist part of your cancer care team. Many centers have a dentist on staff that acts as part of the cancer care team. Individual results may vary. Dr. Chow, a well-known practicing holistic dentist, takes preventive and What few of us realize is how truly important our dentist is to our health. The body and mouth are inseparably linked -- if something is going wrong in our mouth, it can spread. effective measures to help with dental care for cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment to help keep their oral health boosted and maintained. It may be possible to complete the dental treatment before starting any cancer treatment. Radiation caries: lifelong risk of rampant dental decay that may begin within 3 months of completing radiation treatment if changes in either the quality or quantity of saliva persist. Note: It is very important to remove all food and plaque from between teeth before using fluoride. Lockhart PB, Sonis ST. Often patients undergoing cancer treatment may have nutritional issues due to lack of appetite. The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only, and does not replace the need for a formal consultation. The oral cancer examinations that we perform regularly can make the difference in a patient’s survival from life-threatening oral cancers. When searching for a top-notch holistic dentist, Thousand Oaks is the destination where you will find Dr. Chow and Model Smile Dentistry. Using a prescription mouth rinse for cancer patients. However, your dentist can identify suspicious-looking areas or growths that may need further evaluation. 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