Dental Care Post-Radiation

If you suffer from oral cancer or have recently gone into remission, odds are that you have been through some kind of radiation treatment. Though radiation treatment is not used for all types or stages of oral cancer, it is a commonly prescribed treatment that is often successful.

Unfortunately, radiation therapy can exacerbate any health conditions of your jaw, teeth, and tissue. It can also lead to a number of other problems such as inflammation of mucous membranes, infection, permanent dry mouth, cavities, consistent toothache, increased potential for tooth decay, and weakening of the jawbone. Radiation can also make it more difficult for you to taste, swallow, eat, or speak.

Throughout your oral cancer treatment, our Northern VA oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel works closely with your healthcare team and general dentist to ensure your oral health is protected throughout the process. Prior to undergoing radiation therapy, we determine whether advanced procedures will be needed in order to prepare the smile for post-radiation treatments. Impressions of your smile will also be taken to create your future restoration once treatment is complete.

Post-Cancer Restoration Options

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, implant supported restorations and jaw reinforcement treatments are just a few of the services we offer for improving your smile following radiation therapy.

Dental implants are excellent options for those seeking an alternative to dentures following cancer therapy. Implants are secured to the jaw bone to stabilize prosthetic teeth, providing patients with lifelike replacement teeth. As prosthetics of varying sizes can be secured to dental implants, this treatment is a versatile option for patients with diverse tooth replacement needs.

Jaw reinforcement treatments, such as bone grafting and ridge modification, may also be necessary. Bone grafting is a surgical procedure in which donated bone is attached (grafted) to the missing area, thus reinforcing the strength of the jaw. Similarly, ridge modification corrects bone abnormalities by filling deficient or uneven sections of the jaw with a bone-like substance. Both treatments are critical to restoring health to the jaw bone and are often included as part of the dental implant process for patients recovering from oral cancer.

Restoring Your Smile in Lorton and Springfield

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, our mission is to provide patients with lasting dental solutions that enhance their quality of life following oral cancer. For more information about restoring your smile following radiation therapy, contact Dr. Patel and his team today. 

Treating Oral Cancer

Affecting countless individuals annually, oral cancer refers to any kind of cell mutation or persistent growth in the mouth, including the roof, floor, sinuses, throat, and tongue. When it comes to treating oral cancer, early detection is particularly crucial. Through proactive screenings and biopsies conducted throughout the year, dentists can identify potential oral cancer warning signs early, which improves a patient’s chances of successful treatment and remission.

How is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

Dentists are the first line of defense against oral cancer, as their specialized training in the health of the whole mouth can make it easier for them to spot symptoms of the disease. The screening process begins with a thorough exam of the mouth, nasopharynx, and larynx. The appearance of the tissue will also be examined for any lumps, sores, or discolorations that may be indicative of malignant growths. Finally, in-depth diagnostic images will be taken in order to monitor changes and identify any unusual growths.

If any suspicious lumps are uncovered, a biopsy will be performed and sent for analysis. After a diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan will be developed jointly by a team of medical and dental professions. Together, your oral surgeons, radiation oncologists, chemotherapy oncologists, dentists, nutritionists, and restoration dentists will create a treatment plan specific to your health needs and your specific cancer. Generally, this will include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, which treatment or combination you receive is determined by how far your particular cancer has progressed.

How Do Oral Cancer Treatments Affect Dental Health?

Because radiation and other oral cancer treatments can negatively impact other dental health concerns, it is important that any potential oral conditions be addressed prior to undergoing radiation therapy. Your long-term remission plan often includes treatments for dental problems such as periodontal disease, caries, cavities, and decaying teeth. Tackling these issues prior to chemotherapy can reduce the chances of developing osteonecrosis, or damage of the jaw bone. Such jaw damage can make treating dental conditions difficult after you’ve completed cancer treatment.

Restoring Your Smile after Oral Cancer

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we want to ensure your cancer treatment is as successful as possible and that your post-treatment dental health is of the best possible quality. Our oral surgeon offers a wide range of pre- and post-radiation treatments and have extensive experience partnering with other team members as a qualified and dedicated member of your cancer care team.

We offer prior-to-treatment tooth extraction, which can minimize complications brought on by unhealthy teeth. For certain cancers, oral surgery is recommended to remove the mass. We offer this service, as well as bone grafting to restore jaw bones to a healthy status. After treatment, we provide dental implants and implant supported restorations that can bring back your beautiful smile and enable you to eat and speak without pain. To learn more about these pre- and post- radiation dental treatments, contact your nearest location today.

What is the Difference between a General Dentist and an Oral Surgeon?

With many branches of dentistry, it is easy to quickly confuse the specialization of different dental practitioners. In particular, with more and more services now being offered by general dentists, patients may find themselves wondering when and why they need a referral to a dental specialist.

What is a General Dentist?

General dentists are the dentists you routinely visit for regular cleanings and other preventive treatments. In the event of a dental emergency, patients often begin the restoration process with the general dentist. All dental specialists begin as general dentists then undergo additional training to pursue their desired dental specialty. Depending on your general dentist’s education, their practice may offer additional procedures to help improve the function, health, and look of your smile. As general dentists serve as your primary dentist, they have an in-depth knowledge of your smile and are able to refer you to specialists based on your dental needs.

What is the Scope of an Oral Surgeon?

Formally known as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, oral surgeons are dental specialists that focus solely on the surgical procedures needed to improve the function and health of the mouth, jaw, and face. The training required to become an oral surgeon is fairly extensive, often requiring an addition 4-6 years of hospital-based training.

Given their extensive training, oral surgeons offer very specific procedures to improve the function and health of their patients. Some common oral surgery procedures include:

-          Impacted tooth extractions

-          Corrective jaw surgery

-          Bone grafting

-          Implant preparation procedures, such as ridge modification and sinus augmentation

-          Dental reconstruction and pathology

-          TMJ surgery

Some confusion often arises when considering the scope of oral surgeons versus the scope of a dental surgeon. The largest distinction between these two focuses is that while a dental surgeon may perform some oral surgeries, surgical procedures are not the focus of their training or practice. In contrast, an oral surgeon is specifically trained to perform oral and maxillofacial procedures. In other words, oral surgery is their primary focus.

Oral Surgery in Lorton and Springfield

Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery is an oral surgery practice dedicated to assisting patients achieve their ideal smile and optimal health through oral and maxillofacial procedures. For more information about the wide range of surgical services offered at our Lorton or Springfield dental offices, please contact our team today.