When to See a Periodontist

Periodontal treatment may be sought in several ways. Your general dentist or a hygienist may recommend a consultation with a periodontist if they find signs of periodontal disease through the course of a checkup or other dental care appointment. You may also decide to see a periodontist on your own, as a referral is not necessary to be seen at our office.

In fact, if you experience any of these symptoms, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at our office without delay:

  • Bleeding while brushing or eating normal foods. Unexplained bleeding while performing regular cleaning or consuming food is the most common sign of a periodontal infection.
  • Bad breath. Ongoing halitosis (bad breath), which continues despite rigorous oral cleaning, can point to periodontitis, gingivitis or the beginnings of a gum infection.
  • Loose teeth and gum recession. Longer-looking and loose-feeling teeth can indicate recession of the gums and/or bone loss as a result of periodontal disease.
  • Related health concerns. Patients with heart disease, diabetes, osteopenia or osteoporosis are often diagnosed with correlating periodontal infections. The bacterial infection can spread through the blood stream, affecting other areas of the body.

Oral Cancer 

EARLY DETECTION IS CRITICAL 

Dentists and hygienists are the best overall defense against oral cancer – they are in fact, a lifesaver. The key is to identify oral abnormalities at their most easily treated stage of development. Fortunately, there is a simple technology to help in the fight against oral cancer. 

VIZILITE®PLUS 

The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.

The following are common signs of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:

  • Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.
  • A sore that fails to heal, and bleeds easily.
  • A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.
  • Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing.

These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology and, curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer. We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly.

In addition to the conventional head and neck examination performed within our office, our Practices uses ,ViziLitePlus, an FDA approved oral lesion identification and marking system allowing dental professionals to offer superior care to patients. ViziLitePlus with TBlue630 is an oral lesion identification and marking system that used in conjunction with the conventional head and neck examination. It is comprised of a chemiluminescent light source (ViziLite) to improve the identification of lesions and blue phenothiazine dye to mark those lesions identified by ViziLite. 

We recommend an annual ViziLitePlus screening and patients with a history of oral cancer should receive semi-annual ViziLitePlus screenings. 

Are You at Risk? 

Increased Risk: 

  • Patients age 40 and older (95% of all cases) 
  • 18-39 years of age combined with the following: 
    • Tobacco use 
    • Chronic alcohol consumption 
    • Oral HPV infection 

Highest Risk: 

  • Patients age 65 and older with lifestyle risk factors 
  • Patients with a history of oral cancer 

Dr. Thomas-Moses’ Practice provides a variety of non-surgical and surgical services. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are conservative in our treatment recommendations and limit surgery to the areas where it is absolutely necessary. The early stages of periodontal disease are usually best treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. Even in severe cases, non-surgical periodontal therapy usually precedes surgical therapy. This is first completed to improve the overall tissue quality and health prior to surgery and also to help limit the areas requiring 

Remember that your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help.