Face and Jaw Surgery Center
Surgeon General and Electronic Cigarettes
The U.S. Surgeon General has released a report on the dangers of e-Cigarettes for the first time. This is significant because the amount of young people using e-cigarettes continues to rise as users and manufacturers continue to promote them under the false pretense that it’s too early to know if they are dangerous or not.
Here is what the Surgeon General has confirmed:
There is no safe level of nicotine. E-cigarettes are new, but nicotine is not. The Surgeon General’s office has published 33 reports in 53 years on the dangers of using tobacco products. Nicotine harms the developing brain, which continues from the fetal stage all the way until age 25.
Inhaling aerosol is not safe: aerosol contains chemicals and ultra fine particles that are very dangerous to inhale, even second hand. Heavy metals and other toxic substances known to cause cancer and lung disease make their way into your body this way.
Research suggests that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use other tobacco products, as well as certain drugs and alcohol. There is no evidence to support the claim that e-cigarettes help to prevent youth from using standard tobacco products.
You can read more about the Surgeon General’s findings here: https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/getthefacts.html
The e-cigarette industry is a multi billion dollar enterprise, and millions are spent every year advertising to teens and even those younger through the marketing of rock concerts and flavors meant to appeal to children. It is critical that we spread the word and educate our youth on the dangers of e-cigarettes, as so many of them continue to use the devices under the assumption that they are safe.
Find out how you can join the fight against e-cigarettes here:
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/takeaction.html
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Feb 15th, 2017
5:57 am
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Missing Teeth- More than Just a Gap in Your Smile
While it is true that the most obvious effect of missing teeth is a gap in your smile, missing teeth can cause other problems that you might not be immediately aware of. For example, did you know that for every missing tooth you have you lose 10 percent of your chewing ability? Read on to get a better idea of how a missing tooth can affect your life.
Surrounding Teeth
A missing tooth usually means more stress for the remaining teeth. In addition to that, if you are missing a tooth on the lower jaw, the opposing tooth on the top can grow longer to fill the gap in a process known as superuption or extrusion. This could lead to teeth tilting and move out of place by drifting into the space that was left by your missing tooth – a disaster for your beautiful smile!
Digestive Health
If you are missing teeth, you can’t enjoy all of the foods that you are used to eating – bad for your health and bad for your mood! Say goodbye to caramel apples, saltwater taffy, crunchy carrots and even gum. And because the variety in your diet is reduced when a tooth is missing, digestive problems are unfortunate yet common.
Decay and Hygiene Problems
The shifting of your teeth may cause new hygiene issues as it may be difficult to brush and floss like you normally would. This leaves your mouth more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth decay.
Facial Aesthetics
People with more than one missing tooth may also have issues with a collapsed bite which causes a loss of vertical dimension. This could make your face appear shorter, as the distance between the tip of your nose and your chin would decrease.
The good news is that you don’t have to suffer anymore! Dental implants can help you avoid all of the problems listed above and let you live your life normally again. It’s never too late for a dental implant, give us a call at Fargo Office Phone Number 701-239-5969 to find out about this life-changing procedure.
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Feb 1st, 2017
3:47 pm
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How to Safely Manage Opioid Pain Killers
The CDC says that there is currently an opioid epidemic, citing a quadrupled increase in opioid related overdose deaths. While opioids are an effective way to treat pain following oral surgery, we want our patients and fellow physicians to be aware of the complexity surrounding opioid use as well as how to use and prescribe them safely.
What Patients Can Do:
Opioids are highly addictive, which means that it’s critical for you to follow your doctor’s directions while using them. Use your prescribed medication only as long as you need it to treat your pain. Common non-prescription medications such as ibuprofen can be highly effective and carry much less risk.
The overwhelming increase in opioids reaching the streets is a danger to communities around the country, but there is something you can do! When you are done with your prescription, take your remaining pills to your local drug disposal kiosk at your pharmacy. This will make a big difference in helping to make sure that these drugs are used for their intended medical purpose alone.
Talk to your doctor about precautions you can take to use these medications safely, or about any concerns you may have. Keeping unused pills out of your home helps to ensure that they do not get used for unsafe purposes down the road.
Need Immediate Help? Call the opioid addiction helpline at (888) 537-4947!
What Doctors Can Do:
Research at the University of Pennsylvania has found that by day two following surgery, most patients report 0-3/10 pain levels and 80% report low pain by day five. More than 90% of patients did not have complications during surgery and most patients only ended up using less than half of their given pills.
Help keep drugs off the streets by informing your patients of the importance of drug disposal, and prescribe only the necessary amount of pills. Together we can keep millions of opioid pills off the streets.
These medications are used safely and effectively all the time, and together we can make sure that they are only used that way in the future!
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Jan 6th, 2017
9:42 am
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Tags: opioid use, opioids
Immunotherapy and Oral Cancer
You may have heard: Immunotherapy is proving to be very promising in the treatment of a variety of cancers, in particular lung cancer and advanced melanoma. However, immunotherapy has not found its way (yet!) into the treatment regimen for head and neck cancers.
What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is the process of enlisting the patient’s own immune system in the fight against cancer cells. Several drugs have been used successfully to aid in the treatment of advanced lung cancers and melanoma, giving patients a longer prognosis in many cases.
Cancer Cells are Tricky
Cancer cells are notoriously sneaky – their ability to hide from immune cells is one of the reasons that cancer is so hard to treat. This is where “checkpoint inhibitors”, one of the most common classes of immunotherapy drugs in cancer treatment, come in. These drugs help to block the activation of proteins that help cancer cells hide from immune cells.
The Connection with Oral Cancer
Recurring head and neck cancers are very difficult to treat. Often they are resistant to the best chemotherapy drugs, so the hope has always been that immunotherapy drugs may some day step in to assist with the oral pathology fight. A recent trial in the UK has shown that the day may be coming sooner than we thought! The trial proved successful in extending prognosis for many of the patients.
Reduced Side Effects
The research also noted that side effects were reduced to give patients a better quality of life during treatment.
More Testing Needed
While more research is needed before the drugs receive FDA approval for the treatment of oral cancer, the good news is that because these drugs are already approved and on the market for other cancers, the application process for use in oral cancers will be quicker (and smoother) than it would be for a new drug.
At Face & Jaw Surgery Center, our commitment to your care, comfort, health and safety is evident from the minute you walk through our door. Call us at Fargo Office Phone Number 701-239-5969 for more information about oral cancer.
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Jan 4th, 2017
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Oral & Oropharyngeal Cancers
Worldwide, over 550,000 new cases of Oral, Head and Neck cancer are diagnosed each year.
Oropharyngeal cancer is slightly different from oral cancer. Oropharyngeal cancers are related to HPV (Human papilloma virus) and usually occur in the tonsils or at the base of the tongue, while oral cancers are in the mouth and usually associated with tobacco use.
The Oral Cavity
The oral cavity includes the lips, the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, the teeth, the gums, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the floor of the mouth below the tongue, and the bony roof of the mouth – also known as the hard palate.
The Orpharynx
Behind the wisdom teeth is considered the oropharynx, which is part of the throat just behind the mouth. It also includes the base of the tongue, the soft palate (back of the mouth), the tonsils, and the side and back wall of the throat.
Categories
Oral and Oropharyngeal cancers are sorted into 3 categories: Benign (non-cancerous), harmless growths that may develop into cancer, and cancerous tumors. This is why regular check-ups with your dental professional are key to your overall well-being.
The Team Involved
The treatment of head and neck cancers does not involve just your dental team, the assistance of many different professionals contributes is required. There may be surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, dentists, nutritionists, and speech therapists all involved in your treatment.
Oral cancers are found as late stage three and four diseases about 66% of the time.
It is very important for you to check yourself at home as well as visiting your dentist.
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Dec 7th, 2016
3:49 pm
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Dental Implant Recovery
Dental implants, titanium posts that are placed within your jawbone, are an excellent option for restoring missing teeth. The process of getting dental implants typically takes a few appointments over the span of several months, and since the strength of dental implants comes from their fusion with the jawbone, proper healing from this surgery is absolutely essential. Here are some tips for a speedy and well-healed recovery!
Prepare
One of the best ways to promote a speedy recovery is to properly prepare for dental implant placement. Get ready for your procedure by:
● Getting plenty of sleep
● Avoiding smoking or drinking excessively
● Maintain your oral health! Brush twice a day and floss once a day!
● Arrange for someone to drive you to and from your procedure
● Plan to take some time off work so you can really focus on resting and recovering
● Pick up post-surgical prescriptions, gauze, cold compresses, and any other supplies
● Ask for a recovery timeline
Getting ready before your dental implant surgery can make a huge difference in the recovery afterwards!
Recovery Time Factors
Recovery time for the dental implants procedure depends on several factors. While each patient’s case is slightly different, these following factors are the main contributors to healing time:
● The number of implants: Having a single implant may take less recovery time than multiple implant placement.
● Whether or not you require preparatory procedures such as bone grafting
● Your oral and overall health: the healthier you are, the easier it will be for you to heal quickly.
Your oral surgeon will explain your unique estimated recovery time based on these and other factors at your initial consultation.
After Your Surgery
After the procedure, the healing process can be sped up through:
● Biting down on gauze to staunch the bleeding
● Avoiding any activity that could put pressure on your mouth
● Taking proper prescribed medication
● Eating soft foods and avoiding chewing near the treatment area
● Rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater between meals
● Using a cold compress to reduce swelling
● Gently retaining oral health routines like brushing and flossing
Following these guidelines, you will be able to heal comfortably and successfully!
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alec
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Nov 2nd, 2016
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Little Medium Big Bone Grafts.docx
Bone grafting is a straightforward procedure that is immensely beneficial for numerous reasons. In the instance of a missing tooth (or teeth), the jaw bone can begin to slowly degrade. The jaw bone is what holds teeth in place, and once a tooth is no longer present, the bone doesn’t have anything to support. There are different types of bone grafts available depending on your situation. Outlined below are several different types of bone grafts:
Little Bone Graft
In the case of a simple, single lost tooth, the ideal course of action is to not lose excess bone. In this process, sterile, demineralized human bone granules are packed into the tooth socket immediately after tooth extraction. This procedure is very simple, and does not add anything to your recovery time. Over the next several weeks, your own bone will fill the tooth socket and preserve the bone height enough for you to have the area restored.
Medium Bone Grafts
If a tooth was removed a long time ago, there is likely to already be some bone loss impeding the restoration of the area. In this case, the area of the missing tooth is opened with a small incision, the bone surface is prepared, and demineralized bone graft granules are used to build up the area. Many surgeons prefer to use a little bit of the patient’s own bone in this procedure in order to ensure the best results possible. If your own bone is used, your surgeon will take it from another area of the jaw bone, usually near the wisdom tooth area, shaving off tiny granules and combining them with the demineralized bone. The bone graft will heal and integrate with the surrounding bone tissue. This type of graft can be used for one or multiple areas of missing teeth.
Big Bone Graft
Patients who have many missing teeth and who have been missing many teeth for many years, have often experienced advanced bone loss. In those who wear dentures, the lower jaw bone often recedes so severely that they can no longer wear them. Extensive bone grafting is necessary in order to consider restorative methods. A combination of demineralized, sterile human bone and the patient’s own bone is used to restore the jaw bone, creating enough width and height to consider dental implants. The patient’s bone is supplied by another part of the jaw, hip, or tibia. Bone granules are also used to enhance and strengthen the graft.
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that takes time. However, it plays an essential role in making new teeth possible, and will ultimately be a positive process! For more information, call 701-239-5969 today for a consultation with Face & Jaw Surgery Center
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Oct 5th, 2016
3:45 pm
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Oral Cancer and Hepatitis C
21The JNCI study found that the risk for hepatitis C patients of developing head and neck cancers more than doubled for oral cavity and oropharynx cancers, and increased nearly five times for larynx cancers. As well, patients that are hepatitis C virus-positive were also more likely to test positive for human papillomavirus (HPV).
The question remains, how does hepatitis C virus increase oral cancer risk?
The JNCI research found that patients infected with the hepatitis C virus had a higher odd ratio of having cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx than those without hepatitis C virus infection. Enhanced replication of hepatitis C virus in oropharyngeal tissues may in fact contribute to chronic inflammation, ultimately prompting cancer development. Human papillomavirus is known to suppress local immune response, which may accelerate the production of hepatitis C virus in oropharyngeal cells. The JNCI notes that human papillomavirus and hepatitis C virus may play a “synergistic role” in the development of oropharyngeal cancers by stimulating loss or destruction of tumor suppressor proteins p53 and retinoblastoma protein.
The JNCI notes that one of the study’s limitations is that it didn’t include individuals with hepatitis C virus who didn’t have oral cancer. All and all, it is important to take away from The Journal of the National Cancer Institute’s study that it is important to educate Hepatology (study of liver, gallbladder and pancreas health) and infectious disease specialists. These doctors who treat patients with hepatitis C virus need to understand that the hepatitis C virus not only drastically affect liver health, but it’s also a systemic infection that can drastically affect oral health.
Your oral health is important to us. If you suspect that your oral health is at risk, give Face & Jaw Surgery Center a call today and schedule an oral cancer screening!
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Sep 17th, 2016
7:19 am
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Learning the Lingo – Dental Implants
Dental implants are a safe and effective replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. The implant is placed in your jawbone and integrates with your natural bone. This implant then forms a stable, sturdy base for your new teeth.
What They Are
• Implant: The implant itself is a rod that is screwed into the jawbone.
• Abutment: This is the connection between the implant and the crown.
• Crown: A tooth shaped cap that is attached to the abutment. It is the part of the tooth that is visible above the gum line.
What They’re Made Of
• Titanium: Most implants are typically made of titanium, a biocompatible metal.
• Zirconia: Often used for crowns and bridges and can be used as a metal-free option. Zirconia is biocompatible just like titanium.
Where They Go
• Endosteal Implants: Placed in the jawbone. These implants are typically shaped like small screws, cylinders or plates, and they are the most commonly used.
• Subperiosteal Implants: Placed under the gum, but on or above the jawbone. These implants are mostly for people with smaller jaws or shallow jawbones.
What Happens To Them
• Osseointegration: Creates strength and durability by fusing directly to the bone and is bio-compatible. Bone cells attach themselves directly to the titanium/zirconium surface, essentially locking the implant into the jaw bone. Osseointegrated implants can then be used to support prosthetic tooth replacements of various designs and functionality. Anything from a single tooth, to all teeth in the upper and lower jaws. The teeth/crowns are usually made to match the enamel color of the existing teeth to create a natural appearance.
• Bone augmentation: Some people do not have enough healthy bone to support dental implants, so bone must be built. Procedures can include bone-grafting which means adding bone to the jaw.
Talk to us today at Face & Jaw Surgery Center to discuss your options with an implant specialist!
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Sep 7th, 2016
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Pediatric Facial Trauma
We’ve all had our share of trips, bumps, and even broken bones in our childhood years! (If you haven’t, then you’re very lucky!)
As the saying goes, children are very resilient, and this is actually due to their biology. Children have “bendy bones” which are more likely to bend and crack under pressure rather than break.
The term is referred to as greenstick fractures; similar to when a green branch of a tree bends and cracks, but doesn’t break off.
Considering how much energy children have, pediatric facial trauma is actually very rare! Of all facial trauma, only 15% is pediatric (0-18 years).
The maxillofacial region is related to a number of vital functions, such as vision, smell, eating, breathing and talking. It also plays a significant role in appearance.
When treating children’s maxillofacial injuries, we take into consideration the difference anatomically between adults and children. Facial trauma can range between minor injury to disfigurement that lasts a lifetime if not treated correctly.
Children have much more flexibility in their facial bones, as well as smaller sinuses, multiple fat pads and unerupted teeth. In adolescents an increase in risk-taking behavior and the reduction of parental supervision results in an increase in facial fractures. Contact sports, physical play, riding bicycles, and even road traffic accidents all contribute to pediatric facial trauma.
A full treatment plan is always taken into consideration when we deal with facial trauma. The age of the patient, anatomic site of the trauma, complexity of the injury and how long since the injury occurred is taken into account. Ideally, don’t put off your incident for more than 4 days! This is prime healing time, and if any longer, could extend the healing and complicate the treatment process.
This is why it is very important to always wear protective gear! Remember to always have your children wear seatbelts, and invest in booster or car seats so your children can receive the full protection of seatbelt coverage.
During play, remember shin guards, mouth guards and helmets! Especially when riding a bike!
Play it safe, and if life throws a curve ball (at your face!) give Face & Jaw Surgery Center a call at [PRACTICE_NUMBER]
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Aug 24th, 2016
7:05 am
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