The term dental avulsion means the complete removal of a tooth from its sockets following a traumatic injury. Injuries to the front teeth are quite common during childhood. It is a severe injury when the tooth is completely knocked out of its socket (avulsed).

Avulsion injuries have the most impact on the maxillary central incisors. There is less mineralized bone structure in permanent teeth that have not matured yet. Also, the periodontal ligamentum structure in such teeth is looser. This makes these teeth more vulnerable to extrusive forces.

For this reason, children between the ages of seven and nine years usually experience from avulsion due to dental trauma. McLain Surgical Arts, led by Dr. Landon D. McLain, provides oral surgery to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.

 

Replanting the Natural Tooth

The best option is to replant the tooth as soon as possible. Once the tooth is replanted, it can heal in two ways if treated properly. The best case scenario is that the ligament surrounding the tooth reforms and the longevity of the tooth is the same as other teeth. This is known as “periodontal healing.”

If the ligament damage is excessive, the healing will occur with a bony replacement. “Bony healing” means that the bone replaces the tooth and is lost over the next few years.

 

What Your Dentist Will Do

It can sometimes be simple to put the tooth back in place. At other times, it can be complex, such as when the bone or tooth is broken. The dentist will use water to flush debris from the socket.

Subsequently, they will slip the tooth back in position. It is vital to re-plant the tooth as soon as possible. This should ideally take place within the hour of the injury.

The dentist may undertake a root canal simultaneously or may wait. The best treatment course will depend upon how long the tooth remained out of the mouth and other aspects.

The dentist will, in any case, splint the avulsed tooth to the other teeth on either side using a soft wire and/or composite material. This will help hold the tooth in position for several days. The dentist will decide the duration for which the splint should remain in place.

In case the bone around the tooth was not fractured, the root typically will re-attach tightly to the bone in around three to four weeks. A repair time of six to eight weeks may be necessary if there is more damage to the area.

The dentist should re-examine the tooth in three to six months. Unless there are any indications of an infection, the next visit will take place at the annual checkup. The dentist will follow-up for the next two to three years to make sure that the tooth replanting was successful.

If the tooth is replanted before the patient reaches the oral surgeon’s office, the surgeon may do the following:

• Allow the tooth to remain in place
• Cleanse the site with saline, water spray, or chlorhexidine
• Suture gingival lacerations, if necessary
• Evaluate the normal placement of the tooth with an x-ray as well as clinically
• Place a flexible splint for up to two weeks
• The surgeon will also commence root canal treatment between seven to ten days of the replantation and before removing the splint

 

Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for oral surgery.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

Mouth cancer treatment depends on the stage and location of cancer, and the general health and personal preferences of the patient.

The patient may undergo only one type of treatment or a combination of cancer treatments. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are some treatment options. Patients should discuss their options with their doctor.

McLain Surgical Arts, led by Dr. Landon D. McLain, provides oral surgery to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding communities.

 

Surgery

Mouth cancer surgery may include:

 

Surgery to Remove the Tumor

The surgeon may excise the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it to make sure that all the cancer cells have been eliminated. Only minor surgery may be necessary to remove smaller cancers.

Larger tumors may need more extensive surgery. For example, excising a larger tumor may involve excising a section of the jawbone and a portion of the tongue.

 

Surgery to Eliminate Cancer that has Spread to the Neck

In case cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck or if there is a high risk that this has occurred on the basis of the size and depth of cancer, the surgeon may recommend the patient to undergo a surgical procedure. This will involve removal of the lymph nodes and related tissue in the neck, also known as neck dissection.

This procedure eliminates any cancer cells that may have spread to the lymph nodes. It is also helpful in establishing whether the patient will require additional treatment following surgery.

 

Surgery to Reconstruct the Mouth

Following surgery to remove cancer, the surgeon may recommend reconstructive surgery to the patient to rebuild their mouth and regain the ability to speak and eat.

To reconstruct the mouth, the surgeon may transplant grafts of muscle, skin, or bone from other areas of the body. The patient may also require dental implants to replace natural teeth.

 

Surgery Carries a Risk of Bleeding and Infection

Mouth cancer surgery often impacts a person’s appearance and their ability to talk, eat, and swallow.

The patient may require a tube to help them eat, drink, and take medicine. The tube may be inserted through the nose and into the stomach for short-term use. For longer-term use, a tube may be inserted through the skin and into the stomach.

The doctor may refer the patient to specialists who can assist them in coping with these changes.

 

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy makes use of high-energy beams, such as protons and rays, to eliminate cancer cells. While this therapy is usually delivered from a machine outside the body (external beam radiation), it can also come from radioactive seeds and wires that are placed near the cancer (brachytherapy).

Radiation therapy is commonly used after surgery. However, at times, it might be used by itself if the patient has early-stage mouth cancer. Sometimes radiation therapy may be delivered in combination with chemotherapy.

While this combination enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy, it also increases the side-effects that the patient may experience. Radiation therapy may help relieve cancer signs and symptoms, such as pain, in cases of advanced mouth cancer.

 

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy refers to a treatment technique that makes use of chemicals to eliminate cancer cells. Chemotherapy medications can be given alone, or along with other chemotherapy drugs or combined with other cancer treatments. Since chemotherapy may increase the efficacy of radiation therapy, the two are often given in combination.

 

 

Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for oral surgery.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

Oral cancer initiates in the mouth, also known as the oral cavity.

This area of the body includes the lips, the inside lining of the cheeks and lips (buccal mucosa), the gums, the teeth, most of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the body roof of the mouth (hard palate).

On top of this, oral cancer can also develop in the oropharynx. This is the area of the throat right behind the mouth. When cancer develops in this region, it is known as oropharyngeal cancer or throat cancer and may include the back of the mouth roof, the back of the tongue, the tonsils, and the walls of the upper throat.  

The oropharynx and the oral cavity are vital for healthy body function. They help us eat, speak, and breathe. The salivary glands in the oral cavity break down the food as a person chews, which is an important part of digestion.

Cancer can occur in any area of the oral cavity. As each region of the oral cavity is distinct, oral cancer refers to a wide range of cancer types that are treated in various different ways.

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 51,540 people in the US were diagnosed with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in 2018.

McLain Surgical Arts, led by Dr. Landon D. McLain, provides oral surgery to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.

 

Symptoms

Mouth cancer may present the following signs and symptoms:

• A mouth or lip sore that does not heal
• A white or red patch within the mouth
• Loose teeth
• A lump or growth inside the mouth
• Pain in the mouth
• Pain in the ear
• Pain or difficulty in swallowing

 

When to Consult a Doctor

A person experiencing persistent signs and symptoms that last for over two weeks should consult their doctor or dentist. The doctor will likely examine for other more common reasons for the signs and symptoms initially, such as an infection.

 

Prevention

While there is no sure shot way to prevent mouth cancer, a person can reduce their risk of developing mouth cancer if they:

• Discontinue or never use tobacco. People using tobacco should stop its use. Individuals who not use tobacco should not start doing so. Tobacco use, whether chewed or smoked, exposes the mouth cells to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.
• Consume alcohol in moderation, if at all. The chronic excessive use of alcohol can irritate the mouth cells making them more susceptible to developing mouth cancer. If a person drinks alcohol, they should do so in moderation.
• Avoid too much sun exposure to the lips. Protect the skin on the lips from sunlight by remaining in the shade when possible. Use a wide-brimmed hat that effectively shades the whole face, including the mouth. Include applying a sunscreen lip product as a part of the routine sun protection regimen.
• Consult the dentist routinely as well as ask them to inspect the entire mouth for abnormal areas that may indicate mouth cancer or precancerous lesions.

 

Causes

Mouth cancers occur when the cells in the mouth or on the lips develop mutations (changes) in their DNA. The DNA of a cell contains the guidelines that tell a cell how to function. The mutation changes instruct cells to continue growing and proliferating when normal cells would die.

The accumulation of abnormal mouth cancer cells can develop into a tumor. Over time, they may spread within the mouth as well as on to other regions of the neck and head or other body parts.

 

Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for oral surgery.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.