Oral Cancer Facts

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. Over 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year, worldwide. This serious dental disease which pertains to the mouth, lips or throat is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages.

Oral Cancer Risk Factors:

Tobacco use is the number one risk factor in oral cancer. Studies have shown that at least 75% of those diagnosed were either current or former tobacco users. Heavy use of alcohol among tobacco users has been proven to have a 15% greater risk of developing oral cancer than tobacco users that aren't heavy alcohol users. Age and prolonged exposure to radiation or sunlight are contributing factors as well.

Oral Cancer Signs & Symptoms:

Unfortunately, in its early stages, oral cancer can go unnoticed. Oral Cancer could look like a common ulcer, cold sore or a discoloration of tissue. Fortunately, your dentist can see or feel if a lesion looks cancerous. If you have any type of lesion in your mouth, or on your lips, that doesn’t heal within two weeks, or a difficulty in swallowing for a prolonged period of time, it is very important to see your dentist right away.

Oral Cancer Treatment:

If your dentist does find a suspicious lesion in your mouth, he / she might remove it, but will most likely send you to a specialist for a removal and biopsy, which is a painless procedure.

If oral cancer is detected early enough, it could possibly be treated with surgery alone. Radiation combined with surgery would likely be used if the cancer is in its advanced stages.

Oral Cancer Prevention:

The best preventions of oral cancer are not to use tobacco of any kind and only drink alcohol in moderation. Avoid prolonged exposure to sun or use a sunscreen on your lips. Visit your dentist every 6 months for regular check ups. When your dentist examines your mouth at your routine check up appointments, he/ she is also screening you for oral cancer. This process only takes about 90 seconds and consists of a visual examination for any presence of cancer.

Oral Cancer Summary:

Although the number of deaths each year from oral cancer is astounding, it is highly curable if diagnosed early. Prevention is a key factor in oral cancer and a 90 second dental examination could save your life.

Above article from:  dentistry.about.com

Dental Concepts ~ Bruce Braverman, DMD 

2500 North Military Trail, Suite 230 
Boca Raton, FL 33431 
 Telephone: (561) 241-1010

How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush?

Adults and children should change their toothbrush every 3 months because they become worn out and are not as effective as they once were. Exceptions to this would be if you were using an electric toothbrush, and the manufacturer states otherwise. Some electric rechargable toothbrushes have very good brush heads that only need to be changed every 6 months. If you have gum disease, you should change your toothbrush every 4 - 6 weeks because bacteria can harbor in the bristles. You should always rinse your toothbrush out with hot water after every use and change it after you have been sick.

Above article from: dentistry.about.com

Dental Concepts ~ Bruce Braverman, DMD 
2500 North Military Trail, Suite 230
Boca Raton, FL 33431
 Telephone: (561) 241-1010

Dental Implants, Sleep Apnea Treatment, Dentist Boca Raton

Dental Care Boca Raton - Dental Clinic - Dental Office

Invisalign - Orthodontics - ZOOM Teeth Whitening, Boca Raton FL Dentist

Invisalign - Orthodontics - ZOOM Teeth Whitening, Boca Raton FL Dentist

Snoring – It Can Kill You! Dr. B's June 2012 blog

Snoring – It Can Kill You!

Sure – snoring is annoying. But can it actually be deadly?

No – this does not mean being strangled in the middle of the night by a severely annoyed spouse or partner, as tempting as that may be! But the fact is, snoring is often related to sleep apnea, a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen during a night of heavy zzzzz’s.

One obvious problem this causes is being tired during the day, contributing to automobile and workplace accidents. But even worse, sleep apnea, which is experienced by 30 million Americans, has been scientifically linked to obesity, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks and diabetes. So if that low rumbling sound that keeps the entire neighborhood awake isn’t enough, now there is much more reason for concern.

But wait – it actually gets worse. A study performed at The University of Wisconsin School Of Medicine has just shown a significant link between sleep apnea and cancer, showing this condition increases the risk of cancer death by almost a factor of five!

“This is really big news,” said Dr. Joseph Golish, a professor of sleep medicine with the MetroHealth System in Cleveland. “It’s the first time this has been shown, and it looks like a very solid association,” he said.

There is no doubt that snoring can be much more serious than just a nighttime disturbance. So what can you do if you or a loved one may suffer from sleep apnea?

Fortunately, there are many ways to have this condition treated, all the way from simple dental appliances, to surgery, to wearing nighttime contraptions that make you look (and sound) like Darth Vader! Your dentist and physician can recommend the appropriate treatment for you.

At Dental Concepts, we would be glad to take a look and discuss your snoring issues or any other dental questions you may have. Just give us a call at (561) 241 - 1010 and we will get you in right away! Let’s make tonight a quiet one!!

Oral Health Care - Gum Disease Treatment

Gingival Recession

Gums may recede for any of several reasons, including thin tissue, abnormal position of teeth in the dental arch; malocclusion; inappropriate expansion orthodontics; heavy bite stress; and periodontal disease.

Video and article created by: ToothIQ.com

Dentist Boca Raton FL
Dental Concepts
Bruce Braverman, DMD,
2500 North Military Trail, Suite 230
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Telephone: (561) 241-1010

Dental Implant Dentistry

Bone Resportion

Bone resorption is a common complication of tooth removal—one which makes it challenging to replace the teeth esthetically. Fortunately, dentistry has been at the forefront of development in bone science, and offers several common techniques to avoid bone resorption and reconstruct resorption defects. This animation illustrates removal of a lower molar tooth, and the subsequent bone resorption which takes place. Pressure resorption of an edentulous area is shown under a removable partial denture. Compromised placement of a dental implant into an atrophic area of the mandible is animated, and compared with a fixed bridge as a restorative option. Bone resorption in the esthetic zone is then illustrated, showing the cosmetic compromises which must be made if bone grafting is not undertaken prior to restoring the edentulous area. Compromises in implant placement are shown. Sinus pneumatization is animated, and sinus elevation is briefly mentioned as an option. A block cortical graft is quickly shown, followed by placement of a dental implant and restoration with a crown. The animation closes by showing a socket graft to preserve alveolar bone following an extraction.

Video and article created by: ToothIQ.com

Dentist Boca Raton FL
Dental Concepts
Bruce Braverman, DMD,
2500 North Military Trail, Suite 230
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Telephone: (561) 241-1010