Oral Cancer - Important Facts You Need To KNow

About 100 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every day in the United States. Oral cancer often is not discovered until it has reached later stages. As a result, the death rate of oral cancer is higher than many other cancers found in the body. Human papilloma virus number 16 (HPV16)-related oral cancer has become part of cause to this statistical rise. Oral Cancer is found most frequently in the rearward areas of the mouth, at the base of the tongue, the border of the lips, and the tonsils. The physical indentifiers of these lesions make them difficult to distinguish from healthy oral tissues. This is alarming because HPV16 related Oral Cancers have reached epidemic levels in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, of the 37,000 incidences of oral cancer, about 200,000 (up to 60%) yearly cases can be linked to HPV. There are several other factors contributing to these high numbers. Public awareness about oral cancer, its early signs and symptoms, and its changing etiology, is low. Oral cancer has historically been linked to long-term tobacco use and high alcohol consumption (or a combination of both). Most of these lesions are usually seen in the anterior areas of the oral cavity. Now there is an increased prevalence of HPV16-related oral cancer and a decline in tobacco-related cancers, making it more critical to be screened by a dental and professional. The public needs to be informed and reminded about these current risk factors and the need for an bi-annual professional screening. There seems to be a similar model occurring in oral cancer as with genital/cervical cancers. Sexual transmission seems to be the likely source in both cases. Other than abstinence, a vaccine has been in place for pre-sexually active teens. These are the only a preventive treatments at this time. This is important information to share with patients,because 50%-80% of Americans will have HPV in their lifetime according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About half of all men and more than 3 out of 4 women will be diagnosed with it at some point. The signs and symptoms of oral cancer range from a sore area that bleeds easily, a lump or thickening of tissues in the mouth, lips or neck, which may be a colored red or white patch or ulceration that does not resolve within 2 weeks. If any of these are evident, the patient should return within 7-14 days to confirm either persistence or resolution. The early stages of these sites, which may not be readily evident during a routine exam, usually are asymptomatic and often mimic other conditions. Dentists are the first line of defense because most patients are seen twice a year. The American Cancer Society estimated in 2009 that almost 90% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and more than 97% of these cancers occur in adults 35 years and older. People ranging in age from 25-50 who never smoked are the fastest growing group being diagnosed with oral cancer. It is the HPV which seems cause the growth of the squamous cell type of oral cancer. In addition, these Virus have many variants. The number associated with HPV is a unique classification based on microscopic evaluation. HPV-16 seems to be the most common variant found in Oral Cancer, but not the only one unfortunately. Standard treatment usually involves surgical removal. Some treatments may also involve radiation and/or chemotherapy. The relative survival rates vary depended on its stage. About 83% survived 1 year after diagnosis, 60% 5 years after diagnosis, and 49% after 10 years. The 5-year, staged combined survival rate is only about 57% . This high death rate is directly tied to late discovery. As with all disease, early detection and education is the best way to reduce risk. Your Dental Professional should be doing biannual oral cancer screenings.

Car Air Conditioning-A Blessing or a Hazard, You Decide

Your car air conditioner is a blessing during the dog days of summer, but studies indicate that the toxin ‘Benzene,’ a toxic chemical is being emitted from your air conditioner during the first few minutes after you turn it on. There are conflicting blogs and reports on the Internet about the hazards of car air conditioners. If you are savvy enough to understand the OSHA, NIOSH and EPA standards citing the benzene acceptable exposure standards for consumers and employees in the increments of ppm (parts per million), then you are equipped to assess this potential hazard. For the rest of us we need to use common sense and err on the side of caution. If the reports are true, it would be beneficial to open your windows and even step out of your car for these first few minutes while your air conditioner is initially turned on. This would allow any toxins that are potentially released from the air vents to make their way out before you breath that air in. There is no debate about the hazards of Benzene, it is also important to know that Benzene is present in our air both indoors and outdoors and Benzene does exist in car door panels, seats and interior car components. Wherever there are plastics, synthetic fabrics and glues, there is Benzene and the hot weather conditions will ‘off-gas’ trace amounts. The operative question is ‘how much?’ Well, it depends on whose documents you read. For all of us who drive our vehicles in the summer airing out your car is a smart habit, and should be added to other smart habits like cleaning your fruits and veggies thoroughly, avoiding the microwave when food is in plastic containers, and jogging on a track instead of the roads to avoid exhaust fumes just to name a few.

Cavity Prevention: A Huge Return On A Small Investment

Here’s an interesting fact: according to the CDC, the most common chronic disease in children ages 5 – 17 is tooth decay! Why hasn’t a modern, technologically advanced country such as ours combat this age-old problem? In fact, we have! The better question is why don’t parents take advantage of a readily available procedure known as SEALANTS?

My dental training was in the most economically diverse community in the world, New York City. Like all dental schools in 1985, children’s clinical approach was simple, aggressive prevention. Sealants and fluoride-containing vitamins were the thrust then. Although Fluoride is one of the most studied elements on the planet and subject to much debate, the Sealant procedure is today’s greatest tool used to combat tooth decay in children.

Here are the facts: food that has not been brushed, rinsed, or flossed away turns into acid. The acid and bacteria along with the remaining food and saliva will form plaque, a sticky substance that will start the process of tooth decay. It takes only 20 minutes for plaque to develop after your food is chewed. Acids in the plaque dissolve your teeth's protective coating of enamel, creating holes—or cavities. A Sealant application to the tooth surface will protect the cracks and craters of the biting surface thus providing a physical and chemical barrier from the food acids that eat away at the most vulnerable part of the tooth. The cost? Minimal. Almost laughable when you consider the cost of fillings, caps, crowns as well as other invasive procedures needed to fix cavities. A 20 minute visit for a typical sealant session will cost between $15 – $60, (Pedodontist/child dental specialist may charge more). Unfortunately, many families don’t have dental insurance, and those who do, sadly learn that their policy doesn’t cover the sealant procedure. 96% of all dentists offer it, 66% of the dental insurance companies don’t cover sealants, 40% of parents who are offered the procedure turn it down because they would be paying out-of-pocket. A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed only 30% of children ages 6 to 11 had dental sealants. It also found only 38% of children 12 to 19 had them. These are disturbing statistics for a disease so preventable.

Bridging the gap of value and cavity reduction is a personal one. As a dental clinician, the facts are clear. We need to educate the value and role of the sealant to parents and children. Investing at a child’s young age greatly reduces the need for active dental treatment later in their lives. As parents, this is our goal, to provide them with all the advantages we available today.

Michael J. Gulotta, DDS - Family Dentistry
1150 Portion Road
Holtsville, NY 11742
631-696-3820