Dr. K's Corner
What Questions Should I Ask My General Dentist About Seeing a Dental Oncologist?
First of all, ask if your dentist feels comfortable handling the potential complications that can occur after cancer treatment. After treatment there can be very rapid tooth decay. There can be great risk if teeth ever have to be pulled or if gum surgery is ever necessary after treatment. So, you want to make sure…
What is HPV and How Does It Relate to Oral Cancer?
HPV is the Human Papillomavirus. It’s the virus that basically causes cervical cancer. In recent years, the HPV has become a significant cause of oral cancers – specifically of the tonsils and the oral-pharynx in the back of the throat. What it does, it basically reprograms, just like any other virus, it takes over your…
What are the Special Dental Needs of Cancer Patients?
When patients have been diagnosed with cancer there is a lot going on in their lives and quite often the thoughts of their dental health falls by the wayside. Part of what I do is as a Dental Oncologist is to make sure that patients going through cancer treatment can prevent some of the devastating…
What are Some Things I Can Do to Prevent the Effects of Radiation Treatment?
One of the most important things that you can do is go to a Dental Oncologist for a thorough examination to look for any teeth or areas of your mouth that could become problematic during your treatment like an infection brewing on an X-ray that don’t feel but could flare up. Also, we want to…
What are Some of the Signs of Oral Cancer?
Some of the earliest signs are ones that you may not even notice on your own which is why it is extremely important to have regular dental check-ups. The dentist will do a thorough oral cancer exam. It’s very simple and takes less than a minute. We look for anything that shouldn’t be there. Those…
What Are Some of the Causes of Oral Cancer?
There are numerous possible complications starting with, in general, for any cancer patient who is going to be receiving chemotherapy, the number one problem is infection. After a cycle of chemotherapy has started, usually within a couple of weeks the white blood cell count drops to a dangerously low number and when that happens, you…
What If I Have Already Suffered From the Effects of Oral Cancer?
If you have already suffered from the effects of oral cancer, it’s extremely important to seek out a dentist who has specialized training in the treatment of cancer patients. What I do as a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist or Dental Oncologist is make special prosthetics for people who may have lost, not only teeth, but some of…
What Specialized Training Do You Have as a Dental Oncologist?
My Specialized Training for Dental Oncologist Encino, CA based Prosthodontist and Dental Oncologist Many know that I am a Board Certified Prosthodontist. However, I am frequently what specialized training I have received as a Dental Oncologist. Besides the four years of dental school where we’re exposed to the knowledge of oral cancer and oral pathology,…
How to Find a Dental Oncologist in Your Area
A common question asked by cancer patients is, “How do I find a dental oncologist in my area?” If you’re outside the Los Angeles Area, I recommend visit the American College of Prosthodontists website at www.GoToAPro.org. On that website there is a directory where you can search by zip code for a prosthodontist. It will…