Mouth Guard Usage

Proper use of athletic mouthguards is one of the most important parts of oral health maintenance. At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we hate to see a patient’s restorations destroyed and hope that most people won’t need their teeth repaired in the first place. Keeping safe during exercise and sports significantly reduces the odds of a dental emergency.

The better-fitted a mouthguard is, the less bulky it needs to be and the better protection it provides. Athletic stores and online retailers sell boil-and-bite mouthguards, which can easily be adjusted. These are particularly advantageous for kids and people undergoing orthodontic correction, since their teeth are rapidly shifting position. It is also possible to have a permanent, customized mouthguard fabricated, often with a dentist’s input. A properly-fitted mouthguard shouldn’t cause breathing problems.

Mouthguards are mandatory for most organized sports, and dentists also recommend them while cycling, skating, or tumbling. The mouthguard and its case need to be cleaned with each use to prevent oral infections and foul odors, after which they need to be patted dry. They also need to be kept out of high temperatures to avoid accidental reshaping.

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

Surgery for Oral Cancer Patients

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania are a crucial part of the care team for anyone in the Philadelphia area facing oral cancer. Not only are our surgeons able to perform soft-tissue biopsies, they are also able to assist with the construction of prosthetic teeth and mouth parts a patient may need following the excision of a tumor.

Sometimes tumors can be cut out of soft tissue, such as the tongue or inside of the lip. But when they are inside or behind a jaw bone, a section of the bone will need to be cut away. Following its removal, the section of bone may be reinserted or replaced with a prosthetic or a bit of donor tissue (possibly from another part of the patient’s body). If the hard palate on the roof of the mouth was removed, it can be replaced with a specialized prosthetic that may also include replacement teeth.

The silver lining of bone replacement is that the new bone tissue may be better suited for receiving implants. There needs to be a certain amount of healthy bone for an implant post to fuse with, and bone grafts are sometimes necessary for people who have been without teeth for a long time. A patient’s oncologist will likely want them to undergo a dental examination prior to radiation treatment to determine whether any pre-existing caries will be aggravated and if any teeth are likely to need replacements.

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

How Gum Disease is Linked to Arthritis

The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania are accomplished prosthodontists and often provide new teeth to people with severe gum disease. Periodontitis, the advanced form of gingivitis, can be treated, but it takes regular maintenance to prevent relapses. Recently, scientists have found evidence that it can also cause other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) differs from some other forms of arthritis in that it is an autoimmune disorder. It causes the immune system to attack synovium, the tissue that lines joints, making the joints painfully swollen. Smoking and family history increase a person’s risk of RA, but scientists recently found evidence that it is triggered by a chemical process called hypercitrullination. During hypercitrullination, the body deforms a large number of proteins, leading to the creation of an excessive number of anti-protein antibodies. The antibodies subsequently turn on synovium cells.

The acid secreted by oral bacteria triggers hypercitrullination as a means of self-defense. Researchers also found some evidence that treating gum infections can reduce RA symptoms. As oral surgeons, our job is not only to provide periodontitis patients with prosthetic teeth, but also to educate them on cleaning their prosthetics so that they won’t suffer further decay. We hope that understanding the connection between gum disease and arthritis will motivate more people to seek treatment and to be diligent about their hygiene.

The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

Tooth Sensitivity

One nice thing about prosthetic teeth is that you don’t have to worry about sensitivity. But many of the patients at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have a mix of prosthetic and natural teeth, and we want to ensure their natural teeth are comfortable, as well. If you dread biting into an ice cream sandwich, read on.

Dentin, the layer of the tooth in between enamel and pulp, is made up of small tubes. It is an efficient conductor of heat, particularly if the enamel has a cavity. The tooth roots are covered in an adhesive material called cementum that seals them in the gum pocket, but they have less enamel and are more sensitive if the gum tissue recedes. Although the outer layer of a tooth can be cracked or eroded, sensitivity is usually due to acid.

Infectious oral bacteria secrete acid after metabolizing food particles. Acid may also be regurgitated from the stomach, particularly in patients who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  Improved brushing can reduce sensitivity, but patients may want to try switching to extra-fluoridated toothpaste to provide their enamel with reinforcement. If enamel mass has already been lost, it will have to be replaced with a prosthetic.

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.

 

Oral Cancer Screenings

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we encourage our patients to look for symptoms of oral cancer. Routine checkups for oral cancer should be done every year. The earlier oral cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of treating it without any long-term effects.

During an oral cancer screening, our doctors will look for any lumps or abnormalities in your mouth that may be cancerous.

When possible, we advise our patients to avoid using tobacco as it increases your chance of developing oral cancer. If you consume alcohol regularly you have a higher chance of developing it. Our patients that have a family history of oral cancer or have previously been diagnosed with oral cancer are encouraged to have an exam at least once a year.

Remember to ask for an oral cancer screening or schedule one if you haven’t had one in the last year. If you notice any signs of oral cancer give us a call right away.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral cancer, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visitwww.eldersburgdentist.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kurt B. Linkoff, DDS in Eldersburg, MD, call 410-795-2900.