Poor oral health can cause or exacerbate poor general health. But medical conditions and treatments can also contribute to that poor oral health and, in turn, threaten or worsen a patient’s overall health.
Eating disorders, particularly anorexia and bulimia, increase risk of tooth decay, gum disease, infection, and tooth loss. Also, the purging associated with bulimia severely damages teeth and can result in loss of teeth, soft tissue, and bone structure. Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) can have the same harmful impact. Diabetic patients often experience periodontal problems and tooth loss. The good news is that prosthodontic treatment can replace missing teeth and structures to restore oral function and esthetics, both of which are important to patients’ health, psychological well-being, and quality of life.
Certain medications can cause oral inflammation, discoloration, sores, and tooth decay. Also, hundreds of different medicines can cause dry mouth, irritating soft tissues and making them more susceptible to infection. In addition, insufficient saliva makes decay more common. The result, in many cases, is tooth damage or loss and potentially bone or tissue loss.
The mouth is particularly prone to the toxic effects of both radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Common oral problems are radiation decay, mucositis, infection, osteonecrosis, pain, difficulty swallowing, xerostomia, and damage to jaw and neck muscles. Surgical treatment of cancer can also result in oral problems, including disfigurement and/or difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
As a Board-Certified Prosthodontist and Maxillofacial Prosthodontist specially trained in dental oncology, Dr. Joseph DiFazio can help determine and prevent the potential oral consequences of proposed cancer treatment. He creates prosthetic devices that can shield or properly position facial structures during radiation therapy. Dr. DiFazio also crafts custom prostheses to restore or maximize function and appearance resulting from cancer treatment as well as any other medical therapy or disease process.
When you have patients whose oral health, function, or appearance is threatened by medical problems or treatment, give them the skilled help they deserve. Call Dr. DiFazio today.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call our West Long Branch, New Jersey prosthodontist office at (732) 542-0011 or use our online appointment request form today! Our prosthodontics and prosthetics patients come to us from Central New Jersey, Eastern New Jersey, Jersey Shore, Monmouth County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, and Ocean County.
