Thursday, February 23, 2012

Maintaining Oral Health During Cancer Therapy



Oral complications that compromise periodontal health, are sometimes a result of cancer therapy. It is extremely important to keep your teeth & gums healthy during this difficult time by seeing a periodontist, Dr. Sutor.



The American Academy of Periodontology gives some possible side effects of cancer treatments:

Inflamed gums and mouth ulcers
Dry mouth
Difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing
Erosion of tooth enamel
Loss of taste
Jaw stiffness
Delayed healing

The AAP also suggests before beginning your cancer treatment, an oral evaluation is very important. It will give you the ability to correct potential problems in your mouth and keep them from getting worse or interfering with your cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy and radiation can cause excessive dryness of your mouth. Some helpful tips during treatment are to keep your mouth moist by sipping cool water, ice chips, chew sugarless gum, apply lip balm and use a humidifier at night.

Your periodontist may also prescribe a fluoride treatment for you, or suggest a dry mouth toothpaste or rinse such as Biotene (www.biotene.com)

As your cancer therapy comes to an end, this relationship with your periodontist is still very important to maintain your healthy mouth for a lifetime.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

LOVE HEARING FROM OUR PATIENTS!

WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR PATIENT'S THIS WEEK! THANK YOU ALL! IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE A PART OF YOUR CARE!

"Hard to get Too Rhapsodic about getting my Teeth cleaned,BUT,as always,Dr.Sutor and Holly were Perfect and It was an important step in my continued Dental Health...Thanks"...Jan B.

"Everyone at the Sutor office seems to take seriously the mission of the office - to provide the absolute best dental care. After my procedure, they met and exceeded that goal. Thank you."...Alicia H.

"Up to date and state of the art technology makes this the Mercedes Benz of Periodontics. Dr. Mark Sutor presents a confident can-do attitude, which suggests competence and high quality care. Staff also projects a caring, professional and personable demeanour, underscoring every nuance of the visit.. There is a payment program for those who can indenture themselves, ..hehe..pun..with differing terms and levels of interest. I would absolutely entrust Dr. Sutor with my care. Two thumbs up to him and his staff!"...Janas W.

"When I first stared coming to Dr. Sutor I was in pretty bad shape. I feel as if we are a team in the effort to help me keep my teeth and prevent further damage."...Lila J.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Do You Have Exposed Roots?


Gum recession is the gradual loss or retraction of the soft tissue of the gums, eventually exposing the roots of the teeth.

The visible part of your tooth, is buffered by a hard coating of enamel, but the roots are much more vulnerable. One of the first signs of gum recession is teeth that are highly sensitive to cold and heat at the gumline. Even though gum recession is a common problem, if it is left untreated over time it can leave teeth more susceptible to cavities and infection.
Gum recession tends to progress slowly over time and gets worse with age. One cause is gum disease, or an inflammation of the gums. Other factors in gum recession are poor oral hygiene, the use of tobacco, and/or a genetic predisposition to thin bones and gums. Terrence Griffin, chair of the department of periodontology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, says that “for most people the problem is an anatomical defect.’’ Teeth that are not set properly in the bone of the jaw and stick out are at higher risk of gum recession. For that reason, he says, recession is sometimes seen later in life in people who have had braces, because teeth have been moved outward to reduce crowding. Sometimes brushing too vigorously can wear down the gums, but Griffin says that with today’s softer brushes it’s rare to see gum recession caused by abrasion. Clenching and grinding the teeth at night can exacerbate the problem, and wearing a bite guard at night may help in those cases.

For the most part, however, gum recession “is very difficult to prevent,’’ Griffin says. Orthodontics to fix prominent or crooked teeth may help ward off recession at those sites. Good oral hygiene and regular cleanings of tarter buildup by a dentist can help keep teeth free of gum recession caused by gum disease.

Early treatment is the best way to avoid tooth decay, tooth loss, and infection. Dr. Sutor performs a Gum Grafting procedure here in our practice that is a very common treatment and often involves taking tissue from the roof of the mouth and attaching it to remaining gum tissue. In some cases, Dr. Sutor chooses a synthetic grafting material as it can serve a better solution in some scenarios. After a grafting procedure, the patient generally can expect to resume their normal routine within a couple days and in many cases the next day.

Our awesome team would love to speak with you anytime! Call at 333-4550 or visit our website at www.sutordds.com for more information on the gum grafting procedure. We'd love to have the opportunity to meet with you to answer any questions you may have and be able to be a part of improving your oral health for a lifetime!