We Can Make Treating Oral Cancer Easier
Posted on 1/25/2021 by Front Desk |
 Almost 150 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every day. Oral cancer has a higher death rate than several other common cancers, primarily because it is often found at a later stage of development after it has spread to other areas like the lymph nodes in the neck. However, if it is caught and treated early, oral cancer has an 80 to 90 percent survival rate.
How is Oral Cancer Treated?
There are several different types of oral cancer, since it can affect the tongue, lips, gums, cheeks, salivary glands, palate, and other parts of the mouth. Treatment for oral cancer depends on its location and stage of development. Depending on your unique case, treatment may involve surgery to remove tumors or cancerous tissue, radiation therapy, medication, and chemotherapy.
How We Can Help
Surgery for oral cancer may involve removing large sections of your jaw, tongue, palate, or cheek. When this occurs, reconstructive surgery is necessary to restore your ability to eat, swallow, and speak normally – that is where we come in. Reconstructive surgery can consist of bone, skin, and tissue grafts, as well as placing dental implants and crowns if your cancer treatment required tooth extraction. We can help rebuild your mouth to ease your recovery and allow you to resume normalcy to the greatest extent possible.
Additionally, we can help mitigate the side effects of radiation therapy. While radiation treatment is often successful in combination with other oral cancer treatments or on its own, it can result in dry mouth, damage to your jaw, and tooth decay. We will work with you to develop a custom oral care plan, and we may suggest more frequent checkups to make sure your teeth and jaw are healthy throughout the course of your treatment. If you do suffer from jawbone damage or tooth loss, we can talk to you about dental implants or other restorative options. You do not have to endure your oral cancer treatment alone. Reach out to our office today to see how we can help.
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