Face and Jaw Surgery Center
HPV and Oral Cancer: The Connection
With cases of oral cancer, specifically oropharyngeal cancer (the back of the throat), on the rise among those under 40 years of age, we as oral health professionals are trying to get the word out about the various causes of oral cancer and the importance of early detection.
Oral cancer has historically been attributed at the highest rates to smokers. However, with smoking on the decrease, HPV is expected to take over the role as the biggest contributor to certain types of oral cancer (oropharyngeal) in the coming years.
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about HPV and oral cancer:
- What is HPV? HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Typically HPV goes away on its own without causing any health problems. In fact, most people don’t ever know that they have it, which is also one of the reasons that it spreads so easily. Even if you are not symptomatic, you can still spread HPV.
- How does HPV cause oral cancer? Occasionally, HPV does NOT go away on its own and causes problems down the road. There are specific types of cancer that HPV can lead to. For example, cervical cancer is almost always caused by HPV. Oropharyngeal cancer (the back of the throat, not the main oral cavity) is another type of cancer that can be caused by HPV.
- Why is oral cancer on the rise among younger people? Studies show that most cases of oral cancer among young people are caused by HPV. Therefore, as the incidence of the virus grows, so does the incidence of oral cancer.
- What can I do to protect myself? All girls and boys ages 11-12 years old should be vaccinated against HPV. The vaccine is also approved for other specific groups (check CDC.gov for more information). Those who are outside of the vaccination age group should practice safe sex.
- What about early detection do I need to know? As with many cancers, early detection is the key to a good prognosis. Self-examinations by you and regular examinations by your oral care provider are the most important things you can do to protect yourself.
Please note that this information is intended to inform, not scare. Although oropharyngeal cancers are increasing in incidence, they are still a very small risk in our world. Be informed and be proactive!
Head & Neck Cancer Self Exam How-To
Regular oral pathology exams are extremely important when it comes to preventing head and neck cancer. When you visit us make sure to ask about the exam if you haven’t had one before or have noticed anything strange on the inside of your mouth or in the head and neck area. It’s also good to perform an oral pathology check on yourself from time to time. Let’s go over how to do an at-home check and what you should be looking out for.
Step 1: Know what you’re looking for. Oral cancer signs include:
- A difference in color in one particular area
- A change in texture
- Lumps of any kind (especially if it’s something you haven’t noticed before)
- Lesions
Step 2: Take a bright light such as a flashlight and while looking in a mirror, check the following:
- Tongue
- Lips
- Cheek walls
- Top and bottom of mouth
- Back of throat
If you notice any of the above signs, contact us or your health care provider. It’s also beneficial to perform an extra-oral screening. When performing an extra-oral exam on yourself, you want to feel for any lumps or bumps. Here are the steps for doing this exam at home:
Step 1: Place your hands on the back of each side of your jaw under your ears. Open and close your jaw while feeling for any bumps.
Step 2: With your hands in the same position work your way down your neck.
Step 3: Turn your head to the right and feel your left side-neck muscles. Turn your head left and feel your right side neck muscles.
Step 4: Grab your gullet and swallow.
Step 5: Put your chin down and with your palms facing away from you feel the underside of your jaw with your fingers.
We hope we don’t have to see you in the office if you’ve discovered something wrong but we are here to help. We can catch the early signs of oral cancer! If you feel anything strange, contact us or your family health care provider.
The Science Behind Oral Cancer
Can drinking coffee really help prevent oral cancer? What about different types of foods? Numerous studies have been published that claim certain foods and drinks can prevent oral cancer but when it comes to a disease that will affect 43,250 people this year, it’s important to get the facts.
Oral or mouth cancer, and other head and neck cancers, occur when there is a problem with the lifecycle of a normal, healthy cell. Cells are supposed to grow and divide into new cells as your body needs them but when this process goes wrong, your body over produces cells. These extra cells can cause a tumor to form. Depending on the type of cells in the tumor, it could be cancerous or benign.
Some studies may say they have proof that a specific food or drink helps to prevent mouth cancer but in reality the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid certain risk factors like smoking and drinking. Drinking in excess accompanied by smoking makes you highly susceptible to the disease and should be avoided.
Most oral cancers start in the tongue in what are called the flat cells and they can spread to other parts of the body if they aren’t caught early (in doctor lingo, cancer of these flat cells is called squamous cell carcinoma). Interestingly, when these oral cancer cells spread to other parts of the body such as the lungs, they are still considered oral cancer cells rather than lung cancer cells. Where these abnormal cancer cells begin is what they will always be referred to as, regardless of where they spread.
Doctors still don’t know why one person gets oral cancer while another person does not, but it is important to note that oral cancer is NOT contagious. Avoiding risk factors and eating healthy is key to preventing oral cancer.
When Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Gives Patients Their Lives Back
In a recent case demonstrating the good that oral and maxillofacial surgery can do for society’s most vulnerable members, oral surgeons were able to give a seven-year-old girl suffering from left temporomandibular jaw ankylosis the ability to eat food, an action the young girl’s condition left her nearly unable to do. Temporomandibular jaw ankylosis can devastate patients due to a fusing of separate parts of the jaw, leaving patients unable to fully open their mouths.
Cases such as these, in which patients can have their lives restored thanks to surgery, are a common sight for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, who at their best can restore and heal patients and sometimes save their lives. Here are just a few ways that oral and maxillofacial surgeons can give patients the gift of restored health.
When Situations Change Identities
Some of the common conditions oral and maxillofacial surgeons are tasked with treating are cleft lip and palate, removal of benign tumors, and facial reconstruction occurring from accidents involving cars, guns, and falls. For the patient, recovery can be a life-restoring event: Damage from car accidents and gunshot wounds can be particularly severe, for example, leaving some patients with extensive and life-altering injuries to the face and head.
When Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Changes a Patient’s Life
In devastating cases such as these, oral and maxillofacial surgeons must not only treat the physical structure of the patient’s face but also the very identity of the patient. Whatever the cause, the patient’s face, which the patient has regarded as a symbol of their personality and a way of communicating their deepest emotions, has been harmed.
Dealing with the Most Difficult Cases a Patient Can Be Dealt
Sometimes the cases can be even more extreme: Increasingly, extensive burn or accident victims requiring completely new faces can regain their sense of identity through facial transplant procedures. Indeed, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon carried out the first full facial transplant in 2005.
For these patients, oral or maxillofacial surgery will offer a chance to be better than ever. And it usually is a life-changing experience for both patient and surgeon: For many who’ve regained the full use of their face and jaw, the fond memory of their surgeon will last with them for the entirety of their lives; for the surgeon, memory of helping the patient will also always stay with them.
Restoring Life and Identity
When a child can be saved after the accidental firing of a gun, and go on to live life as they would have without the accident having ever taken place, or a young woman in a terrible car crash can walk away nearly scar free from a scenario that nearly took her life, the value of oral and maxillofacial surgery to society truly reveals itself. This is especially true when surgeons can help children who are born with a congenital defect such as a cleft lip and palate: For these patients, treatment can start early enough that they may never even realize that they once needed surgery.
For these reasons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons help people every day when they are harmed and vulnerable, often restoring patients to a level of wellness that gives them the gift of a life renewed. For many of the surgeons handling such cases, such treatments are some of the most difficult parts of their work, but also the most rewarding. For their patients, the treatments are utterly life changing, bringing happiness where it was thought to have been extinguished.
Face and Jaw Surgery Center serves all of North Dakota and North West Minnesota including Moorhead, MN and East Grand Forks, MN
Bismarck, ND office
Fargo, ND office
Grand Forks, ND office
Minot, ND office
Understanding and Planning Your Smile Restoration
Missing teeth, advanced tooth decay or gum disease, chipped or cracked teeth, and even severe staining—there are many reasons why a person might need a total mouth restoration. Some restorations are relatively straightforward, with little more than porcelain veneers or tooth whitening required to achieve a beautiful smile makeover.
For many, many others, however, restoring a smile can be a complex process. Each treatment plan will be unique and depends on the types of dental challenges you have. Here are a few that might play a part in your smile restoration:
All-on-4® Smile in a Day
For patients with all hopeless teeth or who are missing all teeth, and want to escape the inconvenience of dentures, the All-on-4® procedure seems nothing short of a miracle. At the advent of the dental implant process, patients often had to wait months before completing treatment, with several appointments and procedures in the mix.
Today it is possible to completely restore a smile in just one visit with only four strategically placed titanium implants and a prosthetic bridge. When the implants are in place, the bridge for replacement teeth is securely fastened to the posts for a nearly instant, perfect smile. Recovery time is quick, complications are few, and the resulting appearance and functionality is unmatched in tooth replacement options.
Tooth Extraction and Single Dental Implants
Sometimes a tooth can be so decayed that it cannot be restored or saved. In these circumstances, an extraction may be necessary before restoration can begin. If an extraction is required, single dental implants are an excellent option.
Dental Crowns
When teeth are damaged or discolored to the point that veneers won’t provide optimal results, but they still have a healthy root, dental crowns may be the best treatment option. A dental crown is a small porcelain cap that sits on top of the natural tooth. The tooth is reduced down to allow room for the crown to fit comfortably and naturally in the mouth.
Crowns are also necessary when teeth have undergone endodontic therapy, also known as root canal treatment. Some teeth may need a root canal and crown as a part of a dental restoration. If this is true, it may be worth discussing the advantages and disadvantages of opting for an extraction and dental implant versus root canal therapy with your dentist or oral surgeon. Root canals do sometimes fail, and the cost of an implant is not significantly more than that of endodontic therapy.
Planning a Smile Restoration
Your dentist or oral surgeon will advise you on the best therapy or combination of therapies to achieve optimal results. Ask questions and be confident in your surgeon’s abilities. Remember that every situation is unique and the best treatment for one person may not be the best for you.
Restoring a smile does much more than just improves your appearance. Better oral health and hygiene, increased functionality, and an improved self-image are all benefits of undergoing a complete mouth restoration.
Face and Jaw Surgery Center serves all of North Dakota and North West Minnesota including Moorhead, MN and East Grand Forks, MN
Bismarck, ND office
Fargo, ND office
Grand Forks, ND office
Minot, ND office
The Dangers of Ignoring a Dental Abscess
An infected tooth or infection in the gums is called a dental abscess. Like any infection, a dental abscess can cause a myriad of dangers if left untreated. Dental abscesses can be particularly hazardous.
Most people find they have no choice except to have an abscessed tooth treated; the pain it causes can be quite extreme, sometimes to the point of making daily activity impossible. Some people, however, choose to suffer through the pain in the hope that the problem will clear up on its own.
Problems a Dental Abscess Can Cause
Choosing to ignore a dental abscess is extremely unwise and potentially life threatening. An infection in the tooth or gums can lead to:
- Infection of the surrounding bone. Facial bones, particularly the maxilla and mandible, do not tolerate the long-term presence of infection very well. If infection spreads into these bones, surgical removal of the bone may be required in order to arrest further spread. Even in cases where these extreme measures are not necessary, the infection can cause marked weakening of the bone structures, which makes it more difficult for the jaw to support the teeth.
- Tooth loss. If an abscessed tooth is diagnosed and treated early, root canal therapy and a crown can often save the tooth. When the abscess persists without treatment, however, endodontic therapy may not be possible due to weakening of the tooth or the risk of spreading the infection. In these cases, tooth replacement treatments such as dental implants will be necessary to restore oral function, provided that the infection has left enough bone integrity to support an implant.
- Infection in oral soft tissues and sinuses. Since the roots of several upper teeth extend into the sinus area, an abscess in one of these teeth can lead to a painful sinus infection. Additionally, the soft tissues of the mouth and surrounding areas are susceptible to the spread of infection, which can cause a number of complications from facial cellulite to complications with the airway.
- Septicemia. Septicemia is when the entire bloodstream becomes infected. The body’s natural response to an infection is to increase antibodies in the area by sending extra blood. Septicemia from a dental abscess occurs when a pocket of infection ruptures, spills into this blood, and begins to circulate throughout the body. This is an incredibly life-threatening condition that often requires long-term hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.
- Abscess of the brain. A brain infection is also extremely dangerous and usually requires hospitalization for treatment. Infection from a dental abscess can enter the brain in a number of ways, usually by one of the methods described above. A brain abscess can be quite difficult to treat because of the blood-brain barrier.
Of course, the worst possible danger of failing to treat a dental abscess is death. Widespread infection in the body or brain can become so severe that no amount of antibiotics is able to control it.
Treating a Dental Abscess before it Becomes Life-Threatening
Many people are hesitant to treat a dental abscess because of financial limitations or dental anxiety. Considering the possible outcomes of ignoring a dental abscess, however, the cost of treatment is well worth the time and money. Endodontic therapy and antibiotic treatment can save your tooth—and perhaps even your life.
Face and Jaw Surgery Center serves all of North Dakota and North West Minnesota including Moorhead, MN and East Grand Forks, MN
Bismarck, ND office
Fargo, ND office
Grand Forks, ND office
Minot, ND office
Diabetes and Oral Health
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body uses or produces insulin, which is a hormone necessary for converting sugar and starches into energy. If you have diabetes, you are most likely aware that the disease can harm your heart, eyes, nerves and other vital structures of the body. What you may find surprising is that diabetes can also affect your oral health. According to the American Dental Association, the most common oral health problems associated with diabetes include gum disease, infections, tooth decay and delayed healing.
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Oral Health?
Poor blood sugar management is one of the primary causes of dental problems in diabetics. High levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood can cause a variety of problems in your mouth, including pain and infections. Glucose is also a component of your saliva, which is necessary for keeping your mouth moist, preventing tooth decay and aiding in chewing and swallowing.
When your diabetes is not controlled, high levels of glucose in your saliva create an environment in your mouth that allows bacteria to grow and thrive. As a result, diabetics are more prone to the development of plaque, which is a sticky substance that forms on your teeth. The bacteria and acids in plaque can destroy tooth enamel, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Having diabetes also decreases your ability to fight off infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control, this is one of the reasons why diabetics are twice as likely to develop periodontal disease. These include infections of the gum and bone that are responsible for holding your teeth in place. Diabetics are also at an increased risk of bone and tooth loss associated with periodontal disease. Recent research has also shown that serious gum disease can make it very difficult for diabetics to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and manage the progression of the disease.
How Diabetics Can Prevent Dental Problems
Since diabetics are more prone to conditions that can severely affect their oral health, it is crucial that you take your dental care seriously. You can keep your mouth healthy and reduce your risk of diabetes-related complications by following these tips:
- Commit to managing your diabetes: This includes ensuring that your blood sugar remains within a healthy level and eating a healthy diet.
- Brush and floss daily: Ideally, you should brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride. By flossing at least once a day, you can remove plaque between your teeth and under your gum line.
- Visit your dentist regularly: See your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and professional cleaning. This will help the dentist evaluate your overall oral health and detect problems in their early stages. Your dentist may recommend visits that are more frequent.
- Don’t smoke: Smoking significantly increases your risk of developing complications associated with diabetes.
- Tell your dentist you have diabetes: It is important that your dentist is aware of all of your health problems and medications you are taking. You should also ensure that your dentist has the contact information for your physician.
- Look for early signs of dental problems: Carefully examine your mouth for the presence of any problems. These include bleeding gums, swelling, redness, pain or loose teeth.
Face and Jaw Surgery Center serves all of North Dakota and North West Minnesota including Moorhead, MN and East Grand Forks, MN
Inspirational Graphics
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Infection Control, Jurisprudence/Basic Life Support(CPR)
Dianne Testa, RDA, RDH, BS
Registration/Continental Breakfast:
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Infection Control and Jurisprudence – Dianne Testa:
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
2 Each CE Credits Infection Control & Jurisprudence
Lunch Provided:
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Basic Life Support(CPR) – Terry Wynne:
1:00 PM -3:00 PM
CPR Certification
Flat Fee of $50 per person to attend, whether you attend one or all portions.
Please register by March 21, 2014 by contacting Betsey Peterson:
Phone 701.775.4444
Downloads:
Communication ND 3-28-14 (PDF)
Ethics Talk 3-26-2014
2014 OSHA Talk Updated 3-26-2014
How Serious Is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) refers to a group of medical conditions affecting the lower jaw, its joints, and the muscles that surround it. The symptoms may run from mild to severe, but new studies have linked TMJ to additional symptoms that had been unexplainable in many patients until recently.
Overview of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the number of people suffering from TMJ in the United States is approximately 10 million. However, the NIDCR admits that, because the condition is often misdiagnosed, the exact number is unknown.
The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the skull’s temporal bones, and the muscles surrounding this joint are used to open and close the jaw and control its position from side to side. The complex movements for which the temporomandibular joint is responsible make TMJ a difficult condition to study.
Unlike most other medical conditions, TMJ is not a single disorder but a group of similar disorders that affect the same joint. Most of the specific conditions that are considered TMJ fall into one of the following three categories, but it is possible for patients to experience more than one type simultaneously:
- Arthritic TMJ – When the inflammation associated with arthritis affects the lower jaw joints, it can cause pain and discomfort in the joint and the surrounding muscles
- Myofascial pain dysfunction – This category includes the most commonly experienced TMJ disorders and is characterized by pain and discomfort in the jaw muscles, neck and head.
- Internal TMJ derangement – Internal derangement is the most serious category of TMJ disorders. Trauma or a displaced jaw, among other causes, can precipitate it.
Symptoms of TMJ
TMJ may cause one or more symptoms, but the most common are discomfort and pain in the lower jaw, which may range from mildly annoying to severely distressing. Other common symptoms are as follows:
- Neck pain
- Headache
- Earache
- Stiff lower jaw
- Difficulty moving the jaw or locked jaw
- Grating, clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing the jaw
- Misalignment of the upper and lower jaws
- Ringing in the ears
Noninvasive TMJ Treatment
Many cases of TMJ can be treated through conservative, noninvasive methods, many of which can be performed by patients at home with a doctor’s recommendation. These self-care methods include the following:
- Applying cold packs to the jaw
- Restricting diet to soft foods
- Limiting jaw movement
- Engaging in relaxing, stress-reducing activities
- Performing jaw-stretching exercises
Other noninvasive treatments are available but usually require a prescription or the help of an oral surgeon. These treatments include prescription anti-inflammatory and pain medications and stabilization splints.
Invasive TMJ Treatment
According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), when noninvasive treatments are unsuccessful, surgery may be required to treat TMJ. Many procedures have been developed and tested that help relieve serious symptoms in many patients, and they can help to repair damaged tissues. In severe cases, artificial joint implants may be used.
Face and Jaw Surgery Center serves all of North Dakota and North West Minnesota including Moorhead, MN and East Grand Forks, MN
Bismarck, ND office
Fargo, ND office
Minot, ND office