Posts Tagged ‘dentist Media PA’

Dentures

Often time patients will visit our office and request to have a set of dentures made because they believe they are the only answer to their problem. Some believe their teeth are so broken or decayed that they are beyond repair. Others have noticed loose teeth due to untreated gum disease. Many patients are in pain and have chosen extraction rather than dental restoration.

Dentures are not inevitable! First and foremost, it is essential to commit to taking great care of your remaining teeth. Schedule an appointment with a caring, gentle dentist who can assess your situation and share the options you have for creating a beautiful and healthy smile.

Dentures may look real but they are like having artificial hands. False teeth are just that – FALSE. Having false teeth make it very difficult to chew and enjoy certain foods. Natural suction in your mouth keeps a full upper denture in place against the hard palate or roof of your mouth. But you can only apply 15% of the normal pressure used to chew food before suction is lost and the denture slips.  Denture pastes and creams are messy and do not add security in most cases. Because the palate is now covered by a denture, many complain that food no longer smells, feels or even tastes the same. Some say that their bottom dentures are so uncomfortable that they only wear them when they go out in public.

Collapse of bite due to bone resorption

Did you know that as soon as your natural teeth are removed, your face begins to rapidly age? The teeth are vital to keeping the jaw bone intact. When teeth are lost, the jaw bone begins to disappear. This process of bone resorption begins just as soon as your original teeth are extracted and never stops throughout life. As the bone that once held your natural teeth in place begins to disappear, your facial appearance begins to collapse and change. Your jaw bone will continue to shrink away, more and more each year.

What can you do to keep your teeth for life? Maintain good oral hygiene. Treat periodontal disease. See your dentist for regular dental check-ups and repair cavities before the tooth is lost to decay.  Replacing a few missing teeth can maintain a correct bite.  If you have lost your teeth and are troubled by wearing standard dentures, there are a number of options including dental implants, which look and feel like your natural teeth,, and implant-retained dentures.  Age is not a barrier to obtaining dental implants or implant-retained dentures. 

If you are considering dentures and would like to consult with a highly trained dentist to discuss all your options, please call our office so we may assist you – (610) 565-2868.

Your dental care is important to me.

Dr. L. Z. Bodak-G
Media PA Dentist

This year, we expect another 35,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer.  This annual number has steadily increased in recent years.  While the survival rates for many other cancers have improved, we have not made progress with oral cancer because it often goes undetected until the later stages.  Sadly, about half of all people with oral cancer die within five years of their diagnosis.  Of those who do survive, many have faced radiation treatments and/or difficult and disfiguring head and neck surgery.  Early detection and treatment can make a major difference in the quality of life and years of survival.

Screening for oral cancer should be a regular part of your dental care. Your dentist is the best member of your health team to detect oral cancer at an early stage, before there are any symptoms. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat.  Fortunately, specialized tools such as the oral camera and magnification glasses can lead to early detection of oral cancer and improve the likelihood of cure. It is important to choose a dentist who has the skills and experience needed to recognize cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. Routine dental check-ups may save more than your teeth; they may save your life!

There are several known risk factors for oral cancer.  Most patients are 40 years of age or older.  Many have a history of tobacco use in all its forms, especially when combined with excess alcohol intake.  Tobacco and alcohol are well-known and long-established risk factors.  Yet another good reason to quit smoking and use alcohol in moderation!

More recently, we have learned that exposure to the human papilloma virus version 16 or HPV-16 is another important cause of oral cancer. This recent finding may explain many cases among non-smokers and non-drinkers.  HPV-16 is the same virus that causes most cases of cervical cancers in women.  The cancer may appear years or decades after the HPV-16 exposure.

Oral cancer screening is a routine part of my comprehensive dental examination. During the examination, I carefully examine the lips, inside of your mouth, palate, tongue and gums. I may be able to detect white or red spots or sores that the patients cannot see themselves. Sometimes the patient may overlook the spot at first because it is not painful.  If I find anything of concern, I perform a small biopsy immediately and send the tissue to the laboratory for microscopic examination by a pathologist.

If you have not been screened for oral cancer, please call our office at (610) 565-2868 so we may assist you.  I am committed to proper screening and helping patients fight and win the battle against oral cancer.

Your dental care is important to me.

Dr. L. Z. Bodak-G
Media PA Dentist

Missing Molar Tooth

Do you have a missing tooth? Are you looking for an expert Delaware County dentist? Dental implants are a permanent solution for your missing teeth.

After Dental Implants

Missing teeth cause movement of your remaining teeth and bone loss, giving your face a prematurely aged appearance. Many patients develop jaw pain, headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfuntion and misalignment of their teeth and jaw. With a dental implant, I can replace a missing tooth, restoring the youthful contour of your mouth. AND I can do this for the same fee as a porcelain bridge. The implant is placed under local anesthesia. And with an implant, I do not have to cap or crown the neighboring teeth to attach a bridge. My implant tooth looks, feels and functions like your natural tooth, except … it will never decay!

I use the Bicon coated-titanium bacterially-sealed implant, which comes in a wide range of sizes,to replace the natural tooth root. For properly selected patients, Bicon implants have a 98% success rate. The Bicon sloping shoulder design and availability of short or narrow implant sizes may prevent the need for bone replacement, sinus lift and other costly procedures that may be required with other implant systems.

Call Media PA Dentist at 610 565-2868 for your COMPLIMENTARY APPOINTMENT to learn whether you may be a candidate for Bicon Dental Implants.