Understanding Oral Cancer

Like other types of cancer, oral cancer occurs when cells in your mouth mutate or change, resulting in a growth that doesn’t go away. Oral cancer can affect any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, roof, floor, sinuses, or throat, but it is most often found on the tongue or mouth floor. Chewing tobacco users are more susceptible to oral cancer that occurs between the lip/cheek and soft tissue of the lower jaw because this is where the tobacco typically has the most contact with the mouth.

Causes and Risk Factors
Doctors, dentists, and scientists don’t know exactly what causes mouth cells to mutate, forming oral cancer, but they have identified a number of risk factors that describe indicate who may be at risk.

Tobacco use has been directly linked to oral cancer; those who smoke are six times more likely to develop the disease, and those who use chewing tobacco are 50 times more likely to receive a diagnosis. Excessive alcohol consumption, sun exposure, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are also risk factors.

Certain populations, such as adults over the age of 40, men, and those with a family history of cancer, are also more likely to develop the disease, though scientists haven’t determined whether these demographics themselves are risk factors or if people in these groups are simply more likely to have other risk factors counting against them.

Is Oral Cancer Common?
Though oral cancer isn’t often in the media, it is actually more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and many other cancers that are often the subject of news reports and public service announcements. In 2014, over 40,000 people were diagnosed with oral cancer. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, that number is expected to leap by 10,000 to 50,000 this year for 2016 oral cancer diagnoses.

Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening Today
Much of the high mortality rate associated with oral cancers can be attributed to the high frequency of late stage diagnoses. As this form of cancer exhibits few symptoms during its early stages, patients are often unaware that they have cancer until the condition has spread to other parts of the body, making treatment and remission more difficult to attain.

With this in mind, preventive screenings and biopsies are critical components to early detection and proactive oral cancer treatment. In Lorton and Springfield, oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel works closely with local dental oncologists and dentists to develop post-radiation treatment solutions, helping patients retain their oral function through restorative oral surgery. For more information about these procedures, contact your nearest location today.

The Many Uses of Dental Implants

For many patients facing oral rehabilitation procedures, selecting the correct dental restoration can be an overwhelming process. In particular, identifying which treatment will most effectively improve the health and function of the smile without compromising other parts of the dentition can be an overwhelming task. Depending on the condition of your smile as well as your oral health goals, certain treatments may be more effective and efficient than others. Consider the following conditions:

Root Canal Therapy and Retreatment
Preventing reinfection following root canal therapy is an important component of the overall treatment. In most cases, patients are able to enjoy healthy, fully functional smiles and retain their original tooth by opting for a porcelain crown. However, in cases where the root is continuously becoming infected, patients may be better off from a health and functional perspective by removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental implant.

Periodontal Disease
While this condition is better known for its impact on gum health, untreated gum disease can also affect the health of the jaw bone and teeth. In extreme cases, bacteria erode the bone tissue, causing it to become unstable and unable to support teeth. For patients experiencing the symptoms of advanced periodontal disease, extraction of the compromised tooth, bone grafting of the compromised area, and restoration with a dental implant may be the best option to prevent the disease from causing further damage to the bone and jaw.

Tooth Fracture or Crack
Restoring tooth function following a fracture is highly dependent on the position of the fracture or crack as well as whether bacteria has infected the inner pulp chamber, causing more serious dental infection. While minor fractures above the gum line may be easily remedied with a root canal and crown, more severe instances where the tooth has been severely compromised may require a more permanent solution to tooth replacement.

Extensive Arch Damage
In severe cases of damage and decay, entire arches of teeth may require replacement in order to help patients regain oral functionality. While dentures may seem like an ideal, financially sound idea, the long-term maintenance and replacement costs as well as the future health implications of this removable restoration can quickly outweigh any advantages. For these individuals, implant-supported dentures or hybrid dentures offer the security and stability of dental implants combined with the convenience of traditional dentures.

Dental Restoration Options in Northern Virginia
At the oral surgery practice of Dr. Snehal Patel, our team is dedicated to helping patients of varying oral needs find a restorative solution that addresses immediate dental needs while ensuring lasting oral health and hygiene. For more information about including dental implants or implant-supported dentures into your comprehensive treatment plan, contact Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery today.

The Health Benefits of Dental Implants

When choosing dental restorations there are a number of factors to consider, including what is involved in the treatment, the long-term results, and cost. Most importantly, individuals must consider what the long-term health implications are of their desired treatment. In addition to the aesthetic benefits offered by dental implants, this restorative dental treatment also offers a number of health advantages when compared to traditional restorations.

Why are there so many health benefits associated with dental implants?

Part of the reason why dental implants remain successful and functional well into the future is due to the components that make up dental implants as well as how they are integrated into the dentition. The basic structure of a dental implant consists of an implant post, a connective abutment, and the final restoration, which can range from a single crown to total arch replacement with an implant-supported denture.

As the implant post is designed to mimic the natural tooth root, this biocompatible component stimulates the jaw bone exactly as the original tooth root does. During the recovery period following implant placement, the bone and implant fuse together, effectively ensuring that the implant becomes an integrated part of the jaw. Known as osseointegration, this naturally occurring process is critical to the long-term success of the restorative treatment.

Successful osseointegration also plays an important role in creating the long-term advantages associated with dental implants. For starters, the stimulation provided by the integration of the implant into the bone helps to encourage healthy bone regeneration. In the long run, this helps preserve the facial structure in addition to preventing additional tooth loss.

Dental implant integration also helps to preserve the alignment of the dentition. Often, the teeth next to an empty gap tend to shift into the space left by missing or extracted teeth. This can have a domino effect of the rest of the smile, compromising overall functionality. Since dental implants are firmly anchored into the dentition, this restorative treatment also helps prevent this shift, protecting the alignment of the smile and jaw.

Dental Implants in Northern Virginia

If you are weighing your restorative treatment options, contact Dr. Snehal Patel of Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery. Our specialty dental practice is proud to offer a number of dental implant and implant-supported treatment options designed to improve the look, function, and health of your smile. 

Dental Implants vs. Traditional Restorations

With so many available options to select from, choosing the right restorative treatment for your smile can quickly become an overwhelming process. However, few solutions offer the permanence, aesthetic, and health benefits of dental implants and implant-supported prostheses. To better understand the numerous benefits of this innovative procedure, consider the following:

Implants are Comprehensive: In order to receive dental implants, patients undergo a rigorous examination, during which their teeth, gums, and jaw bone are thoroughly evaluated to determine whether these components can support a dental implant. As a result, implant treatment plans are developed to ensure that the restoration will positively contribute to the patient’s oral and overall health.

Dental Implants are Integrative: Unlike traditional restorative treatments like bridges or dentures, dental implants are surgically embedded into the arch of the jaw. During post-placement recovery, the implant fuses with the bone, creating a sturdy bond between the two components. In the long run, this integration ensures lasting support for the remainder of the restoration in addition to encouraging health bone growth.

Dental Implants are Versatile: Dental implants are unique in the regard that treatment with implants is customized to the patient’s specific dental needs. Whether an individual only needs to replace one missing tooth or they are considering total mouth rehabilitation with a series of single unit dental implants and implant-supported prostheses, the flexibility provided by dental implants ensures treatment is molded to the patient’s needs, not the other way around.

Dental Implants look Natural: Unlike dentures which may appear and feel bulky, dental implants and implant-supported dentures are designed to look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth. Individuals with this restorative treatment do not need to worry about their prosthetic dentition falling out at inconvenient times and are once again able to enjoy a complete and beautiful smile. 

Dental implants are an Investment: In the long-run, conventional restorations require frequent maintenance and care which can quickly translate into a number of unexpected expenses. Additionally, these restorative treatments may cause additional dental problems in the future requiring extensive care in order to maintain a certain standard of oral health. As dental implants successfully improve the individual’s long-term oral health and are made of highly resilient materials, many find dental implants and implant-supported restorations to be a valuable lifelong investment into their smile.

At the Lorton and Springfield oral surgery practices of Dr.Snehal Patel, our mission is to help individuals restore their smiles to improve oral function, health, and aesthetics. By offering a number of dental implants and implant-related services, our Northern Virginia oral surgeon is able to provide each patient with personalized care that lasts well into the future. For more information about dental implants, contact our Lorton orSpringfield locations today to schedule your dental implant consultation.