Westwood Dentist Helps Battle Oral Cancer with Patient Education and Cancer Screenings

WESTWOOD, CA — With all of the attention that breast cancer and other cancers like Hodgkin’s, prostate, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer attract, so few people think to check for cancer in the mouth. But, each year over 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer. And according to the American Cancer Society, about 25% of oral cancer patients will die of the disease within five years of diagnosis.

According to the ADA, oral cancer can develop on the lips, gum tissue, inner cheek, tongue, roof of the mouth, or in the throat. The ADA also notes that tobacco and alcohol use are the top risk factors for oral cancer, but this disease can develop without any warning.

Although oral cancer can develop without any symptoms, there are several key symptoms people should recognize and check for to catch the cancer early. The Consumer’s Guide to Dentistry notes that continuous pain in the mouth, sores or bumps, oral lesions, difficulty moving the mouth and jaw, difficulty swallowing or chewing, sore throats, bumps in the neck, excessive pain in one ear, unexplained bleeding from the tongue, gums, or checks, or numbness in a specific area of the mouth or jaw could all point to the presence of cancerous cells.

Screening
Checking for oral cancer should start at home notes Westwood dentist Dr. Neda Naim. “Though it’s not scientifically conclusive, people need to check themselves for oral cancer and visit their dentist for a full oral examination if there is a hint of trouble. Without those self-exams in the bathroom mirror, people could be overlooking serious health issues. I tell all my patients of the warning signs and to check every once in a while for symptoms.”

During regular dental checkups, dentists perform a standard examination of the mouth for oral cancer and other major oral diseases. If the dentist finds an area of the mouth to be suspicious, he or she may perform further testing. These tests may include collecting tissue for lab testing, urine or blood samples. Alternatively, the dentist may have special oral cancer equipment to check specifically for the presence of oral cancer.

“When I perform oral cancer screenings, I use the ViziLite system in addition to standard visual examination,” says, Westwood General Dentist, Dr. Naim. “ViziLite uses a dye and a special light frequency that work together to turn cancerous cells white. It is a quick process and painless, and the results can save lives.”

Doctors may use X-rays, CT scans, an MRI, or ultrasound to identify the presence of oral cancer and the mass and contours of the cancerous cells. Upon the suspicion of oral cancer, patients are recommended to have both a dentist and doctor test for cancer.

Treatment
Oral cancer is highly treatable in its early stages. If suspicious cells are found, patients will visit a doctor or oncologist for surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. However, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), treatment of oral cancer often damages healthy cells and tissues, producing unwanted side effects.

Surgically removing small tumors may have no ill effects, but removal of a large tumor may necessitate the partial removal of hard palate, tongue, or jaw bone. This may alter speech abilities or even the patient’s facial structure.

“It’s unfortunate that surgically removing tumors from the mouth can damage a face so much,” says Westwood Invisalign provider Dr. Naim. “But, if there is bone loss, plastic surgeons can fix that. And if there’s tooth loss, there are excellent restorative dentists out there to make people look like there was never any tooth loss at all. In most cases, patients can leave with a better smile than they had before surgery. It’s scary, but well-worth the value of living a full life.”

According to the NCI, nearly all oral cancer patients treated with radiation therapy develop side effects. These effects vary depending upon the levels of radiation administered, and can include mild symptoms like fatigue, dry mouth, sore throat, or jaw stiffness. Side effects can also include more severe problems like thyroid irregularities, infection, delayed healing, skin changes, and damage to voice quality.

Chemotherapy can yield similar negative effects to radiation therapy, but can also result in deep pains and oral bleeding. Also, the most common problem associated with chemotherapy is the damage done to bodily cells like red blood cells, hair cells, and cells that line the digestive tract.

Dr. Neda Naim, Westwood Dental Implants Expert, is currently holding a special discount on her ViziLite oral cancer screenings. For more information, visit: http://originalsmile.com/.

In addition to providing oral cancer exams, Dr. Naim provides general and restorative dental services for the entire family. She is a leading Westwood Cosmetic Dentist as well.
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Learn More
To learn more about oral cancer tests or symptoms of the disease, visit Westwood, CA dentist Dr. Neda Naim’s Web site at: http://originalsmile.com/; contact Dr. Naim at her practice, located at 11645 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 804, Los Angeles, California; or call: (310) 479-7852 to schedule a consultation.

About Dr. Neda Naim
Dr. Neda Naim has lived in the Los Angeles area almost all of her life. She completed her undergraduate studies at California State University Northridge, where she did her studies in Art and Biology.

She went on to study dentistry as the University of Southern California. There, her background as an artist helped her tremendously as she excelled in her academic performance.

Dr. Naim has been practicing dentistry for almost a decade in the West Los Angeles area. She is highly skilled in general and cosmetic dentistry and has received numerous certifications in advanced restorative dentistry, including sophisticated training in various new advancements in dental implants and cosmetic dentistry.

Most importantly, she has great compassion for her patients. Her patients consider her a gentle and excellent practitioner. Her knowledge in implant dentistry, restorative and WestWood cosmetic dentistry give her the tools to offer the most comprehensive of treatment plans. Her background as an artist enables her to create superior aesthetic results.
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