Our Concern for Your Health and Well-being

 Did you know that certain medical procedures and medications could leave you defenseless against tooth decay?

     We have had the unfortunate experience of seeing long term patients come in for six-month checkups and have a mouthful of cavities that seem to have come out of nowhere.  What’s worse is that it can be prevented.

     Radiation treatment to the head and neck area can render some or all of the salivary glands non-functional. Anything that decreases salivary gland function can lead to rampant tooth decay. Saliva helps cleanse the mouth of food debris and buffers the acids produced when bacteria metabolize sugars.  These acids attack the tooth enamel and allow the entry of the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

     The resulting dry mouth may seem just an annoyance especially of the treatment accompanies a major illness. Often these treatments can not be avoided but the devastating effects can be prevented with the appropriate application of fluorides, salivary stimulation and hygiene techniques.

     Dr. Phillip’s and Dr. Scott have received hospital based residency training where dental consults prior to certain procedures were routine.   Many hospitals do not have dental departments.  Dentists’ significance is under emphasized and patients very often receive little or no guidance in these matters.

     One of the worst things you can do to relieve dry mouth is to suck on hard candy. (Unless it’s sugarless).  This would be like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. The combination of sugar and lowered saliva pH will lead to very widespread and rapid decay. Believe it or not there is enough sugar in Tic Tacs to do this. Remember that cough drops are candy too, anything with sugar, sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup or fruit sugars can do this.

     Another major concern is how poor dental health can adversely effect the success of joint replacement and heart surgery.  Please always keep us informed of all changes in your health history even if it seems totally unrelated to your teeth. Also, be sure to mention any condition or medication that has caused an excessively dry mouth.