Imray and Gesek DMD PA

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is sometimes referred to as mouth cancer. It is a type of cancer that develops in the soft tissues of the mouth, lips, gums, and jaw. What makes this type of cancer incredibly dangerous is that it is difficult to detect without the assistance of a dentist. Oral cancer can also quickly spread to other parts of the body. This makes early detection of the disease an essential element of beating it. You can contact a specialist at Imray & Gesek in Florida to conduct screenings on any abnormal symptoms that could be an indication of oral cancer. In addition to this, a specialist can assist you in treating oral cancer, as well as provide treatment for cysts, tumors, or other pathological processes. Our practice is here to educate you on the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for oral cancer.

Early detection is the key to defeating oral cancer! Don’t delay in getting the oral health care you need. Book an appointment or request a referral to a qualified specialist at Imray & Gesek in Florida as soon as possible!

 What Symptoms Indicate Oral Cancer?

Being aware of the symptoms of oral cancer can help you know when it’s time to contact your dentist in between your regular checkups. Some of the symptoms of oral cancer include:

1. Ulcers or sores that do not heal within three weeks
2. An irritation or thick patch in your mouth, lip, or throat
3. White or red patches in your mouth
4. Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth

 What Do I Need to Know About the Causes of Oral Cancer?

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s odds of developing a disease. While the vast majority of oral cancer diagnoses can be directly linked to lifestyle factors, there are other cases where a person develops oral cancer without any known cause.

 Tobacco Use

Two out of three diagnoses of oral cancer can be linked directly to the use of tobacco in any form. The longer a person has used tobacco products, the higher the likelihood that he or she will eventually develop oral cancer. The way tobacco is consumed has an impact on where oral cancer is found. Those who use chewing tobacco are at a higher risk of having cancer develop in the gums, cheeks, and lips, while those who smoke are at an increased risk of the development of cancer within the soft palate and lips.

 Alcohol Use

Another significant risk factor is heavy alcohol use. People who have more than 21 alcoholic beverages per week are at a higher risk of having oral cancer. In addition to this, combining heavy alcohol use with any kind of tobacco use makes it six times more likely that you will develop oral cancer.

 Other Risk Factors

The other risk factors for oral cancer are:

1. Gender: Two-thirds of the people diagnosed with oral cancer are male.
2. Age: Oral cancer is most often found in people over the age of 45.
3. Prolonged sun exposure.
4. Ill-fitting dentures that cause irritation.
5. Poor diet, especially one that lacks fruits and vegetables.
6. Radiation exposure.
7. Previous head and neck cancer diagnosis.

 How is Oral Cancer Treated?

When a patient is diagnosed with oral cancer, they are typically treated by a team of healthcare professionals. This team will probably include your regular dentist, an oncologist (a doctor specializing in cancer treatment), and an oral or maxillofacial surgeon.

Before an oral or maxillofacial surgeon decides to operate, he or she will want to have a consultation with you. This appointment will allow your oral surgeon to perform a thorough examination and take x-rays if necessary. Once surgery has been decided upon, another appointment will be made. Most oral surgeries can take place in the office. However, there are some more complicated types of surgeries that will require you to go to the hospital. As part of your surgery, your surgeon will conduct a biopsy. This consists of the surgeon removing all or part of the abnormal tissues from your mouth. The tissues are then taken to a laboratory for proper diagnosis.

Treatment methods for oral cancer can be as simple as having surgery to remove all of the affected tissues, and as complicated as needing to have surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. You should understand that each oral cancer treatment plan is unique.

Early detection is the key to defeating oral cancer! Don’t delay in getting the oral health care you need. Book an appointment or request a referral to a qualified specialist at Imray & Gesek in Florida as soon as possible!

 Preventing Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. The majority of cases that are diagnosed each year are linked to certain lifestyle factors. To reduce your risks, you should avoid tobacco and heavy alcohol use. In addition to this, you should schedule appointments with your dentist at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings. Patients who have dentures need to take them out every night and be sure to clean them once a day. Avoiding sun exposure, wearing a hat when in the sun for a long time, and wearing a lip balm with sunscreen in it can also reduce your risk. You should also eat a healthy diet consisting of lots of fruits, vegetables, and omega-3s.

The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that approximately 48,000 people in the United States of America are diagnosed with oral cancer on a yearly basis. Detecting this disease early on is the key to successfully treating it. Remember, oral cancer can happen to anyone!

Early detection is the key to defeating oral cancer! Don’t delay in getting the oral health care you need. Book an appointment or request a referral to a qualified specialist at Imray & Gesek in Florida.

 

What exactly is a bone graft?: Bone grafting is a surgical procedure done when you need to repair bone fractures or replace bone loss. When a tooth is missing or retracted from the alveolar bones that support your roots, gums and teeth, it eventually evaporates, causing facial features to shift and sag over time. This then creates potential problems such as pain in your mouth, not being able to speak properly, or chew food adequately. Fortunately, with the help of bone grafts, the bone that has been lost can be built again, which will not only heighten your appearance by providing strength back into your jaw bone, but also allows us to place a dental implant (artificial tooth) on top of it! In simple terms, the goal of bone grafting is to provide a safe, long-term solution to tooth loss!

How it works: The procedure itself is done by using a piece of bone (typically from your own jawbone; however artificial is also an option) as the base for your implant. Depending on the type of dental implant you plan on the receiving, and the condition of your jawbone, the process of recovery can take up to several months for the transplanted bone to grow enough to fully support the implant. Once the jawbone is healed, titanium, screw-like posts act as the new implant’s roots for fully functioning tooth support. The final step of dental bone grafting is to make molds of your teeth and jawbone, which will then follow with the placement of your realistic-looking artificial tooth!

After The Procedure: Bone grafting is a very popular and safe procedure, with over two million surgeries being reported each year. Of course with any surgery, come a few risks. Common ones include infection at the source, damage to the surrounding teeth or blood vessels, nerve damage, and sinus problems. The post-procedure discomforts include swelling of the gums, brushing on the skin, and minor bleeding. Any discomfort after the procedure should only last a few days and can be managed with anti-inflammatory medication, as well as ice therapy.

Following a successful bone grafting and implant surgery, it is recommended to practice excellent oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly to ensure proper functioning of your implant! To learn more about bone grafting or think you are a qualified candidate to have it done, give us a call at Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561!

Missing teeth? You may be trying to decide what replacement procedure is best for you; dental implants, dentures or maybe even another option. When it comes to choosing, we always recommend dental implants. Dental Implants are a permanent solution to a lost tooth (or teeth) and have many benefits over some of your other options. To help make your decision a little bit easier, we’ve created a list of the top three benefits of dental implants!

1. Dental Implants Act Like Natural Teeth!

One of the most well-known benefits of dental implants is that they look and act just like your natural teeth. When properly placed, dental implants are nearly impossible to detect. Unlike dentures, which are removable and can cause discomfort to the wearer, dental implants are surgically placed into the jaw and provide no discomfort.

When dental implants are implanted to your jawbone, they provide the utmost of stability. This means that you can continue to eat your favorite foods, speak normally, and enjoy your improved self-esteem!

2. Improves Your Oral Health

Losing a tooth can have a big effect on the overall health of your mouth. When a tooth is lost, your gums begin to recede, which then causes the teeth to begin to shift, ultimately weakening your jaw bone which causes major problems for the rest of your remaining teeth. Dental implants provide stability to the jaw and prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting.

3. Reliability

Due to the permanent nature of dental implants, when properly taken care of, the implants can last a lifetime! Luckily, taking care of your implant is simple. Simply treat the implant as you would your other teeth, with the help of proper brushing and flossing.

Taking action to replace your missing tooth sooner rather than later will result in less headaches in the future. If you are considering dental implants as a dental procedure, give our office a call to schedule your consultation at Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561!

Winter is here and with it, comes the drastic change of weather! The cold temperatures are fun in theory, but what about the toll it takes on your health? Often times cold weather brings on a variety of pesky problems, like dry skin and irritated throats. But, the problems don’t stop there. In fact, your oral health is also affected by the change of weather. That’s why this season, we put together the ultimate guide on how to keep your oral health in perfect condition this winter season!

Tip #1 – Tooth Sensitivity: Many find that they experience increased tooth sensitivity to cold temperatures. This can not only come from foods, but the chilly air outside too! If you find that you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, there are tons of tricks you can do to help avoid discomfort. These include using a toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth, or even rising out your mouth with salt water!

Tip #2 – Cold Sores: Cold sores can appear for a variety of reasons, including cold weather and a weakened immune system. To prevent a cold sore breakout, start by keeping your hands off of your mouth area! If you do feel a cold sore coming on, immediately apply a topical treatment to the area to stop the infection in its tracks.

Tip #3 – Chapped Lips: Chapped lips is one of the most common ailments of the winter season. To avoid painful cracked lips this season, invest in a good lip salve with SPF+ to keep them protected. In addition, it’s important to mention that your body moisturizes from the inside out, so remember to keep up with your daily water intake to help to keep your lips moisturized!

Tip #4 – Cavity Care: Let’s face it, the best part of the winter season is all the delicious foods! It’s fine to give into temptation and indulge in sweet treats, but just be sure to properly brush and floss afterwards to avoid cavities! In addition, always remember to drink plenty of water to help rinse away food particles and bacteria from your mouth! Incorporating dental friendly foods into your winter diet to help with cavity prevention will also benefit you! Foods such as crunchy fruits and vegetables, cheese and other foods high in calcium, are all perfect for keeping your teeth and gums healthy this winter!

Taking care of your oral health is important. That’s why we want to ensure that your oral health is in tip top shape this season! If you would like to schedule an appointment with our office, give us a call at Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561! In the mean time, stay warm out there!

Missing teeth? No problem. A dental implant is a way to replace an empty void that may be leaving you self-conscious about your smile. Whether the vacant spot is due to a sports injury, facial trauma, periodontal complication, or bad oral hygiene, it can fill the vacancy permanently and give you a boost of confidence. So, what exactly is a dental implant? Here are a few things you need to know:

• Dental implants act as a replacement for the roots of a tooth. Metaphorically speaking, they can be the anchor for crowns, bridges and dentures and are screwed into the jaw bone to provide support for replacement teeth. They are surgically inserted into the jawbone beneath the gum line.
• Dental implants resemble the shape of screws and once placed into the jawbone, will naturally bond with your natural bone to provide a strong base for artificial teeth.
• Dental implant surgery is one of the safest procedures done in dentistry.
• Dental implants will be the next best thing you’ll have to healthy and natural teeth.
• A dental implant is dependent on the oral health of the person undergoing treatment. There needs to be healthy tissue in the mouth and enough jaw bone to support these dental implants.
• After undergoing a dental implant procedure, keeping the structures healthy and clean should be done precisely and with attention to detail. This will help to maintain and ensure the long-term success of the treatment and the oral health of your mouth.

Don’t let a missing tooth or teeth stop you from living a full life without limits. Laugh and smile, indulge in foods without restriction, and most importantly, feel comfortable in your own skin. Call our office Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561 to find out how a dental implant can be beneficial to you and the overall health of your teeth. What have you got to lose? Call us today!

 

 

 

 

Need a dental implant but don’t have sufficient jaw bone? Dental implants are the most effective option when it comes to replacing a tooth. However, if in order to successfully get an implant, you need to have an adequate amount of jawbone. If you don’t, then you will need a bone graft before getting the actual implant. Bone grafting is when an oral surgeon will either harvest bone from another part of your body, or in most cases, use a special bone grafting material to anchor it onto your jaw bone, thus increasing its’ strength and density. Although the procedure may sound pretty scary, we can promise you it’s nothing of the sort. Below are some things to expect when getting a bone graft!

First, it’s important to keep in mind that dental implant surgeries are most often performed in stages. The first stage is the removal of the damaged tooth. After the removal of the tooth is when the actual bone grafting takes place; which, as explained previously, is when an oral surgeon replaces lost bone, therefore creating a base for a dental implant. Once the jawbone heals, you’ll be able to move on to the next stage, which is setting up the base for the dental implant using a titanium post. After this heals, the prosthetic tooth will then be inserted. To summarize, this process is often very long, spanning over months. A successful bone graft and implant won’t just happen overnight.

Recovery time is often based on the size of the bone graft and implant. This can take anywhere from a short two weeks to more than a year. We recommend avoiding intense physical activity for the first six weeks. Swelling is expected (as it always is after most surgical procedures); it’s your body’s reaction to the surgery. Most swelling won’t be apparent until the day following your surgery. To help aid your swelling, Ice packs can be applied to the outside of mouth where the surgery was performed.

As always, if you have any questions regarding the procedure, or simply want to discuss the details further, simply call our office @ Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561.

 

Getting your wisdom teeth removed seems to be a rite of passage these days. Everyone knows a friend or a family member who has gotten them extracted or even have had them pulled themselves. Aside from enjoying the perks of getting these last set of molars extracted such as getting to miss school or even work for a few days, or the endless and guiltless ice cream soiree, here are the occasional and sometimes painful telltale signs that you need your wisdom teeth removed:

• Gum pain: When your “third molars” or wisdom teeth begin to erupt, they push past the gums creating an uncomfortable and hot feeling. It will most likely be accompanied with pressure or a dull throbbing sensation in the gums nearest the jaw bone. Infection can also lead to puffy and swollen gums and some unwanted drainage.

• Jaw pain: A wisdom tooth infection can cause sore throats and swollen lymph glands under the jaw. These symptoms can make the area around your jaw uncomfortable and difficulty chewing and eating may become persistent. In the case where an impacted wisdom tooth is present, it can lead to jaw aches and ear pain as well.

• Teeth and mouth pain: When you have an impacted wisdom tooth that is growing in at an angle, it can impact surrounding teeth. This can result in an increase of pressure on tooth nerves and bone, crowding the surrounding teeth. Symptoms include swelling, tenderness and pain.

You may be the lucky few who never experience these symptoms and may not even need your wisdom teeth removed if they are growing properly positioned, but making sure to address the pain and getting them removed early will ensure that you get to enjoy the perks of wisdom teeth extraction without the pain! Call our office today! Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561

Bone grafts are essential for replacing missing or damaged bone in your jaw. Whether a cavity has reduced your tooth to an empty, gummy space after an extraction, or gum disease has caused loose teeth, a bone graft can repair and rebuild the damaged bone needed to support a dental implant. Surrounding teeth can also become loose and eventually fall out without healthy bone regeneration, which may cause future complications. Without bone grafting, a dental implant would not have enough mass to securely latch onto.

So, when do you need a bone graft?

• Once a tooth is lost, 25% of bone width is reduced within the first year. If left untreated for an extended period, there would not be enough surrounding jawbone to support a dental implant to replace a missing tooth. Once bone mass is gone, it cannot be reversed which is why a bone graft may be needed.

• Periodontal disease can also cause bone to disintegrate, which can lead to tooth loss. The bacteria slowly eat away at the jawbone and periodontal ligament, which connect teeth to bone.

• Dental trauma, including the persistence of grinding and clenching teeth, can cause excess wear on the tissue supporting tooth structure. The constant pressure can also lead to fractured or cracked teeth, which do not heal. Aside from grinding and clenching, trauma can also include a tooth getting knocked out from an accident or a fall. In this case, a bone graft may be needed as well.

Bone loss can be caused by several different circumstances, but one thing is for sure- a bone graft is a great alternative for repairing and building new bone. So, what are you waiting for? Call today for a consultation to see what our office can do for you! Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561

Insecure about a missing tooth? Don’t be. With dental implants, you can get your smile back to looking perfect. For many, dental implants provide the feeling of having their natural teeth back again. This is because instead of being a removable type of device, such as a dental flipper, dental implants are permanently embedded into the jaw, which then allows a dental crown to take the place of the missing tooth. We understand that this procedure may seem intimidating, but we’re here to reassure you it’s not as bad as it sounds. Below are the top three common misconceptions when it comes to getting dental implants.

Myth #1: Dental Implants are painful

This is a common fear. Many people hold back from pursuing a dental implant, simply because they’re afraid the procedure might be too painful. However, this is not true. The procedure itself is pain-free. As always after surgery, there may be some temporary discomfort, but your doctor will work very closely with you to ensure your comfort and ease.

Myth #2: Dental Implants are expensive

Although dental implants aren’t cheap, they’re a much better investment than dental bridges, which need replacing every 7-15 years. Dental Implants cost may be high initially, but it’s a better financial decision in the long run.

Myth #3: Dental Implants cause headaches

It’s a fairly common myth that dental implants can cause migraines or headaches. However, we’re here to let you know that this is not true. There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support this. After the dental implant has successfully bonded with the jaw/gums, you should experience zero pain.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding dental implants, give our office a call at Park Street Office Phone Number 904-300-1561 so we can discuss the next steps.

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