Posts Tagged ‘dr angela ramirez’
Early Oral Cancer Detection Saves Lives
April is oral cancer awareness month and the Oral Cancer Foundation has been campaigning to increase public awareness of this disease. They are also on a mission to motivate the medical community to screen their patients more frequently because early detection saves lives. Dentists, like myself, are on the frontlines. We are the physician specialists of the mouth and have one of the “best seats in the house” when it comes to oral cancer screenings. Seventy five percent (75%) of head and neck cancers begin in the oral cavity.
An image of oral cancer of the tongue.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation there are 100,000 dentists in the United States who see 8-15 patients per day. Sixty percent (60%) of the population sees a dentist at least one time a year. These statistics should yield tens of thousands of opportunities to diagnose oral cancer in its early stages. However, less than fifteen percent (15%) of patients visiting a dentist report receiving an oral cancer screen.
Here are some of the facts: there will be more than 30,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed this year with 8,000 deaths; oral cancer kills one person every 24 hours; once diagnosed the survival rate is only 5 years for fifty percent (50%) of those affected. Unfortunately the survival rate is unnecessarily short due to late detection and diagnosis. Oral cancer is more prevalent in older populations (over 60 years). The rate of oral cancer is on the rise in younger populations (under 50 years) due to HPV (human papilloma virus) infection. Oral cancer has a higher death rate than other cancers such as cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and testicular cancer.
Patients know the value of a yearly pap smear, mammogram, or a prostate exam. These tests have been made a part of yearly health exams, and have allowed for early detection and treatment of cervical, breast, and testicular cancer and lead to higher rates of positive treatment outcomes.
I have partnered this year with the Oral Cancer Foundation by offering complimentary oral cancer screenings in my office on April 19 and April 25. An oral cancer screen takes about five minutes to complete and is painless. Early detection of oral cancer increases cure rates by 80-90%. Please, don’t hesitate to call my office at 561-447-9505 for your screen. Early detection saves lives! See how a simple oral screen has affected others lives at Oral Cancer Foundation.
Veeners, Bonding, or Braces
While eating at one of my favorite Indian Restaurants in Boca Raton I was asked by the manager what I could do for him regarding the space between his front teeth. Knowing that I was a dentist and a frequent visitor, he felt comfortable telling me that he had been to another dentist for a consultation who had recommended invisible braces to close the gaps, however the cost of the treatment was unaffordable.
I told him that I would be happy to give an opinion. I thought that he could consider cosmetic bonding or porcelain veneers. However, porcelain veneers would be about the same cost as the invisible braces.
After an examination with x-rays, I was able to recommend cosmetic bonding at one third of the cost of the invisible braces.
Dental bonding materials are similar to a sculptor’s clay. By using dental composite resin bonding it is possible to repair chipped or broken teeth, fill in gaps between teeth and reshape or recolor your smile. In my patient’s case, I was able to close his gaps without cutting into his teeth. Other advantages are obviously the cost, and the ease of subsequent cosmetic corrections.
My patient was ecstatic with his results!
In another situation a beautiful mature woman came to our office with a similar case. She wasn’t happy with the gaps between her front teeth. She didn’t want braces at her age and she didn’t want to cut her teeth so veneers weren’t an option either. She chose bonding. Again, she was happy when her treatment was completed. See the “before” and “after” pictures of her below.
By the way, my first patient went home to India for vacation with his new wife, but will return in two months. We will post his amazing pictures when he returns.
To close spaces between teeth there are options to consider. Braces have always been available. Traditional braces using wires and brackets or the invisible braces using clear plastic trays. Porcelain veneers are also an alternative that gives beautiful results. These first two options involve greater treatment time and cost more. Cosmetic bonding usually can be finished in one visit with ease and cost from one third to one half less than braces or porcelain veneers.
Your Boca Dentist™ 