Mouth cancer in the Ireland is an increasingly widespread problem, yet the majority of people are uninformed about its causes and symptoms. In recent years the government has teamed up with dental organisations and dental practices across the country, in order to try and raise awareness of mouth cancer and increase survival rates.

What causes mouth cancer?

Mouth cancer is most commonly associated with drinking alcohol and smoking. These are behaviours that can be easily stopped and doing so can make a big difference. Poor dental health is also a negative behaviour and can lead to several dental and general health problems.

Symptoms

Dr Goggins diagnosed 2 cases of oral cancer in the last two years. Early diagnosis is important and people must be aware of the relevant symptoms. Symptoms of mouth cancer include sores that take a prolonged amount of time to repair, red or white patches in the orifice and irregular bulges or swellings in the throat or mouth. If you experience any of these symptoms, feel free to call us for an appointment to have this problem checked or GP as soon as possible. Even if you are not sure it is best to err on the side of caution, as early diagnosis can save lives.

In Ireland survival rates for oral cancer are low because most people are diagnosed at an advanced stage. If people are better aware of the symptoms and causes, they can look out for the warning signs and get the treatment they need as quickly as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can better rates of survival by as much as 90%.

Reducing your risk

You can reduce your risk of developing mouth cancer by sticking to the recommended daily intake of alcohol, avoiding smoking and attending regular dental check-ups. Eating a healthy, balanced diet will also help to boost your general health, as well as your oral health.

At Dublin18 Dental Care near Deansgrange we provide mouth cancer screenings to enable early diagnosis.

We all want to keep looking as good as we can for as long as possible; you just need to look at all the anti-ageing creams on sale in your local chemist to see that staying youthful is on peoples’ minds. Believe it or not there are even things that your dentist can do to help you fight the ageing process.

Dublin18 Dental Care offers non-invasive cosmetic surgery procedures including Anti wrinkle injections and dermal fillers for patients from Deansgrange and surroundings areas. These are simple and safe injections that can smooth out the skin or “fill in” wrinkles, with the effects lasting anywhere from a few months to over a year. Even those who have a phobia of needles have nothing to worry about, as the practitioner will use a local anaesthetic cream to numb the area slightly so you won’t even feel a thing.

However, your teeth are also an important part of fighting wrinkles and many people don’t realise how they could be causing their skin to age prematurely by not taking good care of their smile. As people get older they may find that their teeth become decayed or damaged and have to be removed; if these teeth are at the front of the mouth then most people will immediately sign up for a dental bridge or a false tooth. If the gap is hidden away at the back, a lot of patients decide to just manage without as no-one will see the missing teeth.

True, a missing tooth at the back of the mouth won’t show up on photographs – but give it a few years and the gap will start to have an effect on the shape of your face. A full set of teeth is essential to maintain the health of your jawbone. Gaps allow the bone to deteriorate which means it cannot support the flesh and skin on your face properly. Patients who have had missing teeth for years often look years older than their real age because of the way their faces have started to sag and wrinkle where there are gaps in the smile. Having false teeth fitted as soon as possible after initial tooth loss can help to prevent this happening in later years.

Having a dental bridge fitted is a common procedure and is one of the most effective ways of dealing with missing teeth. The natural teeth either side of the gap are used to anchor the false tooth in place, which helps to create a completely natural smile that no-one would ever know has been created thanks to the wonders of dentistry! Bridges can either be permanent, in which case they are cemented to the natural teeth, or removable, and both can be fitted in just a couple of appointments at Dublin18 Dental Care near Deansgrange.

But why is it so important to have a false tooth securely fitted wherever there is a gap in our smiles? Aside from the fact that gaps, even at the back, look ugly and can really affect a person’s self confidence, gaps can also affect the teeth that remain around them, as well as the general oral health of the patient. Even those who have decided to get a bridge fitted do not realise this, as they have often made the decision to undergo the treatment for what they see as purely cosmetic reasons.

Our mouths were designed to boast a full set of teeth, and each tooth has their own job to do when it comes to eating, chewing and even speaking. If one tooth is missing that dynamic is destroyed and some teeth have to take on jobs they were not designed to do, putting them under unexpected stress.

Missing teeth also means that your whole mouth and jaw area are not getting the full support they need, something which is especially important with the back teeth. Many people who are missing teeth right at the back of their mouth decide that they don’t need a bridge, but over time these empty spaces can cause cheeks to appear sunken and the appearance of dreaded wrinkles.

Finally, an empty area of gum where a tooth used to be is much more at risk of infection, which can cause gum disease. Gum disease has now also been linked to other more serious conditions affecting the heart and respiratory systems. The decision to get a dental bridge to complete your smile is therefore not a vain one and could be a move that could end up saving your life!

A Dermal Filler is a material that is commonly used to fill in imperfections on the face, such as scars, fine lines and wrinkles. The general idea of Dermal Fillers is to give a more youthful appearance. They are commonly composed of hyaluronic acid, which is a substance found naturally in your body that diminishes with age.

That doesn’t sound like a dental procedure – well it isn’t, technically, but there are several reasons why you may wish your Dublin18 Dental Care clinician serving Deansgrange to carry out such a procedure.

Firstly, if you’ve just had extensive cosmetic dentistry you can really “finish off” your new look by making your face fuller with fewer fine lines. Your dentist will make sure that any changes to the shape of your face and mouth compliment your teeth.

The second reason is that dental anaesthesia is the great for carrying out this procedure. We commonly use topical anaesthetics, i.e. ones that are applied directly to the skin, such as numbing cream.  However dental anaesthetic can be more effective and less painful.

How easily can I find a dentist that can give me Dermal Fillers?

A couple of clicks on any search engine brings up a plethora of results for dentists who offer Dermal Filling services. As well as this you can consult your local dentist, who may offer the service. Even if they do not they will be able to recommend you to a qualified dentist near your area. It is best to consult with your dentist about the procedure before you make any decisions so they can give you proper guidance.