Oral Cancer Screening with the VELscope in Southern California
Here are few sobering facts about oral cancer:
• The incidence of oral cancer increased 11% in the United States in 2007
• Unlike several other cancers, the survival rate for oral cancer has remained unchanged for decades
• The overall 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is 52%, but when discovered early, it increases to 80% – 90%
• Unfortunately, only 35% of oral cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages.
It’s kind of sad to see that while other cancer survival rates have greatly increased, oral cancer survival rates have not improved nor has the early detection rate changed. There is a newer device called the VELscope that can help dentists detect malignant and pre-malignant lesions in the mouth. It’s basically a blue light with a special lens that the operator looks through. There is no discomfort nor any special rinses the client needs to use. It’s quick, easy and painless. It’s cleared by the FDA to detect early lesions so we know it works. Unfortunately most dentists do not have this device so if your dentist does have one, you can be assured they’re on the cutting edge of cancer detection. Ask you dentist about it if they don’t have one. I personally feel that every person should be examined with the VELscope once a year. Our office just purchased one and we have started screening patients undergoing their soft tissue examinations by the hygienist during their cleaning appointments. If you have cancer in your family, you may want to ask your dentist if they can get the VELscope or an alternative screening method to detect early cancer.
The Velscope procedure is available at our Southern California office in Riverside California, Contact Us for your screening appointment.
Some of you may be wondering what you would look like with a smile makeover. You’ve probably heard of computer “photoshop” style previews or looking at special wax representations of what your smile may look like. However, those options do not really show what a makeover would look like in your own mouth. At Dr. Chad’s office in Riverside, we now have the capability to create a temporary mockup of your smile and then place it in your mouth! It covers your own existing teeth with a plastic like temporary material which can show you what your new smile may look like. In fact, this temporary smile makeover can be worn for a few hours up to a few days so you can show your loved ones what your new smile can look like. And since the mockup is only temporary, you can tell me what you like about the mockup and what you’d like to change. Sometimes this mockup will dislodge on its own but if not, I can remove the temporaries at the office. Normally this sort of mockup can easily cost more than a thousand dollars. However, on occasion our lab offers special events where you can accompany me to the lab and have a makeover event. And the best part is that sometimes these events are complimentary! So please contact us by filling out the contact form in the left margin of this blog or call us at 951-686-3666 to see if there is an upcoming event. You must become a patient of record to participate in these events because the placement of these temporary mockups is still considered dentistry therefore I would need all your personal information and health history. Also, a few molds of your existing teeth would be necessary along with a few pictures of your current smile.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Riverside, choosing the right dentist is important. Many people are dissatisfied with their smiles. Sometimes it can be due to dark, stained ugly teeth and sometimes due to extreme crowding or misplaced teeth. Many people also have metal lines from previous crowns that are now visible due to receded gum lines which now show the metal margins of the crowns. Sometimes people can have discoloration that comes from heavy antibiotic usage or high fluoride ingestion at a young age. Missing teeth and swollen and uneven gums can further complicate the smile. Sometimes a procedure as simple as whitening at home or in office whitening can be the proper fix. For more complex cases or increased esthetic complications porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, or composite bonding may be necessary to create a more esthetic smile. And with the advent of Invisalign and clear braces, we can also move teeth quickly and comfortably to help create that winning smile. Dental implants can also be used to fill in the missing teeth in conjunction with the previously mentioned treatments to really complete and create the perfect smile. And to really complicate matters further, we need to take into consideration the longevity of all this dental work. Sometimes dentists can create beautiful smiles but oftentimes, these smiles may fall apart or may require serious reconstruction in the future. Make sure your cosmetic dentist in Riverside is highly trained in occlusion before undergoing serious cosmetic work. There are many controversies between many dentists between which bite they feel is the best for the patients. Don’t get confused by the differences in occlusal philosophies because even dentists get very confused with this stuff! The bottom line is that you want to select a dentist that has training in occlusion and is somebody you feel comfortable with.
Single Implant versus a Fixed Bridge, Riverside Cosmetic Dentist Explains.
Many of you may have bridges in your mouths. Basically they’re restorations that replace missing teeth by attaching artificial teeth (pontics) onto neighboring existing teeth. As you may know already, the adjacent teeth need to be prepared and enamel removed in order to cover the anchor (abutment) teeth so that the pontics can be attached. These one piece restorations can look wonderful and definitely are the treatment of choice in many situations.
However, with dental implants we can now replace missing teeth without touching the adjacent teeth. Many of our clients like the fact that the adjacent teeth are left intact without any preparation which can definitely help them keep those teeth longer.
However, on occasion there are times where a bridge may be a better choice than an implant. You need to consult with your dentist to find out which one may be right for you.
Feel free to contact our Riverside Cosmetic Dentist office if you have any questions or call (951) 686-3666.
CT Guided Surgery with Immediate Delivery of Implant Secured Dentures
Some of you may have heard of “teeth in an hour” or “teeth in a day” concepts in the news or internet. They’re usually referring to a procedure in which the dentist can plan and place implants and deliver the “teeth” which secure onto the implants in the same appointment. I’m trained with the Procera software which allows me to plan exactly which size implants will go in which spots at exact angles chosen by me ahead of time. Because the software is so precise, I can plan to fabricate the “teeth” ahead of time so that I can deliver the prosthesis at the same time as implant placement and the client is never without any “teeth”. It’s a wonderful service to our clients and can be done with as few four implants but the more you can place, the more “future proof” the design is. We can make “teeth” with the same material as traditional dentures or with porcelain. Most times, these designs are either cemented or screwed into place and are not removable. I give free consultations for this type of procedure, dental implants at my Riverside office, and because of the complexity of these types of cases, we will need to order a CT scan and eventually do a comprehensive full examination to determine if you’re a candidate.