Archive for the ‘ Oral Health ’ Category

CAN DENTAL INFECTION SPREAD TO THE HEAD OR BRAIN?

The anatomy of the head and facial blood vessels allows for blood to flow in either direction as there are no valves in these vessels. This design helps to keep the brain alive in case of head/face trauma and/or head/face vessel blockage (such as a blood clot or a lesion). The point is, that the […]

PREGNANCY AND THIRD MOLAR PROBLEMS

Many women will give a history of developing problems with their teeth and gums during pregnancy. There are certain types of problems that we see that have been studied such as progression of gum disease during pregnancy, but these are not consistent nor universal. There does appear to be a certain genetic predisposition to this […]

IS ORAL HEALTH THE KEY TO OVERALL HEALTH?

Here is another article which seems to suggest that tooth loss predisposes one to the development of disease – rather than the opposite. Wow! Another crazy article in what should be our nation’s premiere dental journal – the JADA. This guest editorial suggests that maintaining good oral health is the key to reducing overall health […]

Oral Health: Get Your Oral Cancer Screening

Did you know that mouth cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide? The sad truth is that oral cancers are more than twice as common in men as in women, and the fastest growing group of oral cancer patients are young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals. Now is the time to be proactive and get yourself […]

GARDNER SYNDROME, OSTEOMAS (EXOSTOSES) and COLORECTAL CANCER

In our practice we have never seen a case of Gardner Syndrome – at least any that we have been aware of (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 77:1617-1627, 2019)  Gardner Syndrome is characterized by uncountable adenomas throughout the colon and rectum, with a high risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). If left untreated it has almost […]

IS IT SAFE TO REMOVE TEETH IN TRANSPLANT PATIENTS WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS?

This question is posed in an article in JOMS August 2019. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 77:1557-1565, 2019) As long as patients understand the concerns and risks associated with treatment with or without antibiotic coverage I am happy to provide care either way. We have a great deal of experience in providing care under both scenarios. […]

Flossing: Absolutely Necessary!

Yes, You Still Have to Floss. No, the dance move “flossing” does not count. The AP recently released an article making the claim that “there’s little proof that flossing works”. Their review cited a series of studies that found flossing does little or nothing to improve oral health. Here’s the problem: the studies were flawed. […]

ROOT CANAL INFECTIONS SPREADING TO THE SINUSES

It is common for dental infections to spread to other areas outside of the jaw bone such as the upper jaw, sinuses, or the facial structures. When there is a more serious infection the danger is that the spread can extend to the brain or chest where it can kill you. I am often amazed […]

3 Tips to Keep Your Gums Healthy and Happy

Keeping your gums healthy is vital to ensuring that your mouth stays clean and your teeth stay intact and in pristine condition. Incorporating a few simple steps into your daily oral hygiene routine will keep your teeth and gums healthy, happy and your smile shining bright for years to come. Floss Like a Boss Flossing […]

MEDICATION RELATED OSTEONECROSIS OF THE JAWS

Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is a disorder with bone maturation that occurs as a result of taking certain medications (historically bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax; more recently with antiangiogenic drugs such as Denosumab; and mainly from injectable forms of these drugs used in chemotherapy such as Zometa) where dental related disease processes […]