ORAL CANCER
ORAL CANCER FACTS
ORAL CANCER EXAM
DENTAL ONCOLOGY
COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT
MAXILLOFACIAL PROSTHETICS
ORAL CANCER FACTS
Close to 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,650 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour,
24 hours per day. Of those 45,750 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. (Approximately 57%) This is a number which has
not significantly improved in decades. (The survival number at 5 years from diagnosis was for many decades about 50%, so 57% is an improvement over the last ten years.
However this is due to the increase of HPV16 caused cancers which are more vulnerable to existing treatment modalities, conferring a significant survival advantage. So a
change in the etiology, not improved early discovery or treatments; which are relatively unchanged from a decade ago, are not the sole cause for improvement.) The death
rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and e
ndocrine system cancers such as thyroid. If you expand the definition of oral and oropharyngeal cancers to include cancer of the larynx, the numbers of diagnosed cases grow to
approximately 54,000 individuals, and 13,500 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Worldwide the problem is much greater, with over 450,000 new cases being found each year. Note
that the world incidence numbers from the WHO, while the best available, are estimates that users should consider with caveats. Data collection and reporting in some countries
is problematic in spite of the professional efforts of the WHO to be accurate.
ORAL CANCER EXAM
Oral cancer is a pathologic process, which begins by producing no symptoms making it hard to recognize without an exam. There are many types of oral cancer,
including teratoma, adenocarcinoma and melanoma. The most common form of oral cancer is malignant squamous cell carcinoma, which typically originates in the lip and mouth tissue.
There are many other places in which oral cancers occur, including: the tongue, salivary glands, throat, gums, and face.
The oral cancer examination is completely painless. Dr. Lang and Dr. Cardoso will look for abnormalities and feel the face, glands, and neck for unusual bumps. Lasers may be used to highlight pathologic changes,
and can “look” below the surface for spots and lesions invisible to the naked eye. Some of the signs that will be investigated are red patches and sores. Red patches on the floor of the mouth,
or the front of the tongue, and bleeding sores which fail to heal easier, can be indicative of cancerous changes. Leukoplakia is a hardened white or gray, slightly raised lesion that can appear
inside the mouth, and may be cancerous. Signs of these will be examined as well. Finally, soreness, lumps or the general thickening of tissue anywhere in the throat or mouth can signal pathologic signs, and will be examined.
If abnormalities, lesions, lumps, or leukoplakia are apparent, Dr. Lang and Dr. Cardoso will implement a treatment plan that is right for you.
DENTAL ONCOLOGY
Treating and managing oral side effects and complications that can arise as a result of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other immunosupressive treatments.
Provide pre-treatment oral assessments and supportive oral care before, during and after cancer therapy.
COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT
Dysphagia
Trismus
Mucositis
Stomatitis/ Fibrosis
Osteoradionecrosis
Xerostomia
Candida Infection
Dysgeusia
Radiation Caries
Periodontal Issues
For More Issues
MAXILLOFACIAL PROSTHETICS
What is a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist?
Extraoral Prostheses:
Ocular Prosthesis
Replaces Eye
Orbital Prosthesis
Replaces Eye and surrounding tissues
Auricular Prosthesis
Replace Ear
Nasal Prosthesis
Replaces Nose
Midfacial Prosthesis
Replaces part of the face which may involve more than one structure
Somatic Prosthesis
Replaces a body part like fingers, hands, etc
Radiation Shield
Worn during radiation therapy for protection of normal tissues
Intraoral Prostheses:
Surgical Obturator Prosthesis
Covers palate after partial or total loss of the maxilla (upper jaw). This is used after surgery to provide closure
Interim and Definitive Obturator
Covers palate after partial or total loss of maxilla or due to cleft palate. It restores teeth and gums and has an extension which closes the defect or hole for swallowing, eating, chewing, and speaking.
Palatal Lift Prosthesis
Helps soft palate assume correct position for speech
Palatal Augmentation (Drop) Prosthesis
Alters palate prosthetically for speech
Mandibular Resection Prosthesis
Replaces portion of the jaw that has been lost and restores gums and teeth
Fluoride Carrier
Tray filled with Fluoride gel for patients with dry mouth from medications, radiation therapy, or certain medical conditions. Helps to strengthen, protect and preserve compromised teeth
Close to 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,650 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour,
24 hours per day. Of those 45,750 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. (Approximately 57%) This is a number which has
not significantly improved in decades. (The survival number at 5 years from diagnosis was for many decades about 50%, so 57% is an improvement over the last ten years.
However this is due to the increase of HPV16 caused cancers which are more vulnerable to existing treatment modalities, conferring a significant survival advantage. So a
change in the etiology, not improved early discovery or treatments; which are relatively unchanged from a decade ago, are not the sole cause for improvement.) The death
rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and e
ndocrine system cancers such as thyroid. If you expand the definition of oral and oropharyngeal cancers to include cancer of the larynx, the numbers of diagnosed cases grow to
approximately 54,000 individuals, and 13,500 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Worldwide the problem is much greater, with over 450,000 new cases being found each year. Note
that the world incidence numbers from the WHO, while the best available, are estimates that users should consider with caveats. Data collection and reporting in some countries
is problematic in spite of the professional efforts of the WHO to be accurate.
Oral cancer is a pathologic process, which begins by producing no symptoms making it hard to recognize without an exam. There are many types of oral cancer,
including teratoma, adenocarcinoma and melanoma. The most common form of oral cancer is malignant squamous cell carcinoma, which typically originates in the lip and mouth tissue.
There are many other places in which oral cancers occur, including: the tongue, salivary glands, throat, gums, and face.
The oral cancer examination is completely painless. Dr. Lang and Dr. Cardoso will look for abnormalities and feel the face, glands, and neck for unusual bumps. Lasers may be used to highlight pathologic changes,
and can “look” below the surface for spots and lesions invisible to the naked eye. Some of the signs that will be investigated are red patches and sores. Red patches on the floor of the mouth,
or the front of the tongue, and bleeding sores which fail to heal easier, can be indicative of cancerous changes. Leukoplakia is a hardened white or gray, slightly raised lesion that can appear
inside the mouth, and may be cancerous. Signs of these will be examined as well. Finally, soreness, lumps or the general thickening of tissue anywhere in the throat or mouth can signal pathologic signs, and will be examined.
If abnormalities, lesions, lumps, or leukoplakia are apparent, Dr. Lang and Dr. Cardoso will implement a treatment plan that is right for you.
Treating and managing oral side effects and complications that can arise as a result of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other immunosupressive treatments.
Provide pre-treatment oral assessments and supportive oral care before, during and after cancer therapy.
Dysphagia
Trismus
Mucositis
Stomatitis/ Fibrosis
Osteoradionecrosis
Xerostomia
Candida Infection
Dysgeusia
Radiation Caries
Periodontal Issues
For More Issues
What is a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist?
Extraoral Prostheses:
Ocular Prosthesis
Replaces Eye
Orbital Prosthesis
Replaces Eye and surrounding tissues
Auricular Prosthesis
Replace Ear
Nasal Prosthesis
Replaces Nose
Midfacial Prosthesis
Replaces part of the face which may involve more than one structure
Somatic Prosthesis
Replaces a body part like fingers, hands, etc
Radiation Shield
Worn during radiation therapy for protection of normal tissues
Intraoral Prostheses:
Surgical Obturator Prosthesis
Covers palate after partial or total loss of the maxilla (upper jaw). This is used after surgery to provide closure
Interim and Definitive Obturator
Covers palate after partial or total loss of maxilla or due to cleft palate. It restores teeth and gums and has an extension which closes the defect or hole for swallowing, eating, chewing, and speaking.
Palatal Lift Prosthesis
Helps soft palate assume correct position for speech
Palatal Augmentation (Drop) Prosthesis
Alters palate prosthetically for speech
Mandibular Resection Prosthesis
Replaces portion of the jaw that has been lost and restores gums and teeth
Fluoride Carrier
Tray filled with Fluoride gel for patients with dry mouth from medications, radiation therapy, or certain medical conditions. Helps to strengthen, protect and preserve compromised teeth