Is There a Way to Detect Oral Cancer in Early Stages?

               Is There a Way to Detect Oral Cancer in Early Stages?

Over 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and sadly, the recovery rate is the worst out of all other forms of cancer. This is perhaps due to the fact that oral cancer is not usually discovered until it is late into the development stage. With ever improving technology, can oral surgeons hope to find ways to diagnose, and therefore treat, oral cancer in its early stages?

Patients Need to Be Made Aware of Early Signs and Risk Factors

When oral cancer starts, it usually goes unnoticed by the patient for quite some time. The early stages of oral cancer are not painful until it has advanced into a noticeable tumor. Additionally, by the time patients are treated for the tumor, the cancer has developed and can cause secondary tumors after initial treatment. Patients who have had an encounter with oral cancer are 20 times more likely to develop a second type of cancer. Although symptoms are usually nonspecific and thus go unnoticed, oral cancer does create symptoms that everyone should be aware of. If you have had any of the following symptoms or are otherwise at risk, you should see an oral surgeon as soon as possible.

·         White (leukoplakia) or red (erythroplakia) lesions in the mouth that do not heal within 2 weeks.

·         A lump or a notable thickening of the soft tissue in the mouth.

·         Feeling like something is caught in your throat, or difficulty chewing and swallowing.

·         Ear pain and difficulty moving the jaw; swelling of the jaw.

·         Difficulty moving the tongue, or unexplained numbness of the tongue.

If any of these symptoms develop and persist for more than two weeks, laboratory tests and clinical exams may be necessary for a diagnosis.

Additionally, there are certain people that are more at risk for oral cancer. Anyone who is a heavy drinker or smoker is more prone to developing cancer of the mouth. Certain strains of HPV have been linked to oral cancer, and people over 40 may have an increased risk.

New Technology May Help With Early Detection

Aside from a traditional examination of the mouth conducted by your doctor or oral surgeon, emerging technologies may hold promise for techniques in early diagnosis. Vital Staining and autoflourescence imaging may help to identify abnormal sections of the mucosal membranes. Newer imaging technology, like i-CAT scans, may also detect early signs of cancer, as these scans can show abnormalities in soft tissue, bones, and blood vessels.

Advancing technology, coupled with patient awareness, may hold some hope for the future of early diagnostics in oral cancer.

Contact us for more information. www.SolaceOralSurgery.com  

The Prodigal Tooth: Single Tooth Dental Implants

                          The Prodigal Tooth: Single Tooth Dental Implants

Some dental patients may be nervous with the idea of Dental Implants . They have often bought into stereotypes about the procedure, thinking it is only for cosmetic purposes, is a last resort, or is for people with chronic problems. Did you know, however, you can receive a dental implant for a single missing tooth? Here are the ways you can benefit from single implants.

When are Single Implants Needed?

A missing tooth does not necessarily mean you need or want a dental implant. A tooth in the back of your mouth with a small chip or crack probably doesn't warrant one right away, and if the missing tooth isn’t obvious, you may forego an implant. However, you should consider a single implant in a few circumstances:

• It’s obvious the tooth is missing (for example, it’s a front tooth).
• You find yourself hiding your teeth or mouth.
• The area around the missing tooth is inflamed or has signs of decay.
• Your other teeth aren't functioning effectively without the missing tooth.
• Because of the missing tooth, your other teeth have begun crowding or overlapping.

How Can Implants Help?

The benefits of dental implants, including singles, are abundant. First, there’s usually a social advantage. People are naturally self-conscious about their appearances – especially any flaws in the face, eyes, or mouth. Those of us with missing teeth know what it’s like to smile with your mouth closed or to put hands over your face so others won’t comment on a missing tooth. Dental implants eliminate that worry.

On a more practical level, dental implants (even for one tooth) mean a healthier mouth. People with missing teeth often report an increase in decay or sensitivity, especially as the teeth age. Missing teeth can also make eating and talking painful and awkward. At Solace Surgery, we install immediately functioning teeth so you can enjoy a complete mouth and its benefits right after surgery.

How Does the Implant Work?

We provide several options for the type of implant, but we do similar procedures for each. Solace Oral Surgery offers traditional fully ceramic implants. We offer another option to dentures and restore your smile with modern dental technology.  Dental implants act like a normal tooth and are made with biocompatible materials. They maintain natural bone and implants will normally last a lifetime. Talk to Dr. Jaime A. Romero about your options. 

After your initial exams, the dentist will provide a temporary tooth or bridge. This allows you to function normally while your mouth and jaw get used to the new tooth. After the adjustment period, your oral surgeon will put in the permanent implant. Call for a consultation appointment today.

A Wise Choice for Your Mouth: Benefits of Wisdom Teeth Removal

A Wise Choice for Your Mouth: Benefits of Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are usually removed during the teens or twenties years. Some people put off this procedure or don’t have it done at all because of fear, or they think it’s not necessary. Education has improved, but most patients don’t know all they need to. Here are the reasons for wisdom teeth removal and the benefits.

What Are Wisdom Teeth, and Why Remove Them?

Wisdom teeth are defined as “each of the four hindmost teeth in humans, appearing at about age twenty.” That refers to the third and final set of molars. Getting them doesn't mean immediate removal is necessary. To a point, wisdom teeth can be beneficial if they come in properly aligned. The problem is they are often misaligned or don’t come in completely. Some adults may not even have a full set; a small percentage have three wisdom teeth while some have only two.

Wisdom teeth often come in aligned horizontally or positioned away from the other molars, which can cause pain and make eating or drinking difficult. These teeth also make it harder to brush or floss because the misalignment makes them more difficult to reach. Therefore, wisdom teeth are likely to get dark spots, cavities, and other dental problems.

Sometimes wisdom teeth are impacted – meaning “trapped” or enclosed in the soft tissue, gums, or jawbone. Many of them break through only partially, leading to pain, swelling, and sometimes bleeding if they’re deep enough into the tissue. Dentists usually use X-rays to detect wisdom teeth, how they’re aligned, and how far they've erupted. Here at Solace Oral Surgery,we use our 3D technology not only detect wisdom teeth, but also to view crucial anatomical structures such as nerves, sinuses and adjacent teeth. We can also estimate when wisdom teeth removal will be necessary.

What About the Operation?

Wisdom teeth removal is a routine dental surgery  make sure you consult a specialist. Patients have the option of staying awake with conscious sedation, but it’s generally performed under local anesthesia. Your oral surgeon will explain the risks.

The surgery doesn't require an overnight stay. Have someone drive you to and from the procedure. You’ll receive instructions, and if necessary, medication for any swelling or discomfort.

What Are the Benefits?

Removal will eliminate pain in the teeth, jaw, and gums, and will reduce the possibility of decay. It can also help realign your bite, which reduces the risk of food getting between your teeth and under your gums, and will decrease crowding of your other teeth. The result: a healthier and more attractive smile.

Smile for Christmas 2014

Give Yourself a Smile This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, you want to look your best. Typically, the holidays are marked by events and gatherings with friends and family, which means you are sure to have a big smile on your face all season long. Don’t let bad or missing teeth stop you from showing your holiday spirit! Consider getting the dental services you need before the holidays as a special gift to yourself that will last a lifetime. If you have been putting off dental work, think about how great you will look if you have the smile of your dreams.

All-on-4 Treatment Process

If you are in need of dental implants this holiday season, consider the innovative method of All-on-4 treatment. This process provides the best implant option and will have you smiling in time for Christmas. The cutting-edge procedure provides edentulous and soon-to-be edentulous patients with same-day fixed full-arch prosthesis, so you can get the smile you deserve as quickly as possible. Unlike other treatments, which require many office visits, you can walk out of surgery with a full set of implants.

All-on-4 treatment is the fastest way to get the smile you want. The treatment time is reduced by tilting the posterior implant, thus avoiding bone grafting procedures and allowing for immediate loading. Another benefit of the treatment is the cost, which is considerably lower than conventional dental implant treatments. All-on-4 treatment uses longer implants by tilting the two posterior implants; this allows more bone to implant contact for better quality and security with your implants.

Smile Giveaway Contest for SOMEONE IN NEED 

Another way to bring a smile to your face this holiday season is our “Smile for Christmas” giveaway. Solace Oral Surgery’s Dr. Romero is partnering with Nobel Biocare to provide one person with a new smile for the holidays. Our dental office wants everyone to have the smile they want because we believe everyone deserves to show off their happiness.

The “Smile for Christmas” giveaway will help one person achieve their dental dreams with a free dental treatment. Contact our office at 615-320-1392 to find out more information on how you can enter to win a free smile this holiday season. You can send stories to our office in Nashville. 

Attn: Smile for Christmas, 207 23rd Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37203. Please include pictures and/or any recent xrays (If you have them). You can also email stories to DrRomero@SolaceOralSurgery.com

 Warm up the room with a beautiful smile this winter. Consider scheduling an appointment for your dental work today, and you will be ready for the holidays in no time! Contact Solace Oral Surgery to schedule an appointment with Jaime A. Romero Jr., D.D.S.

Dentures vs. Implants

                                                                                                     Dentures vs. Implants    

Welcome To Our Blog!

We're excited to announce the official launch of our Solace Oral Surgery blog. 

We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.

We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients. 

If you would like to stay up to date on the latest from Solace Oral Surgery, simply click the RSS “Subscribe to feed” link located on our website and subscribe. Our subscribers will be updated when we make a new blog post.

Here's to your best oral health ever!