A young dad on the train told me his dentist asked if he wanted ‘an advanced screening.’ The young man agreed to the $50 charge. I asked if his dentist pulled his tongue out to the point it was a little uncomfortable. I asked if his neck was palpated. His answer to both was ‘no’. His dentist replaced the visual …
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Does Wine, Coffee and Turmeric Stain Teeth?
It’s not the color of drinks/food that stain teeth, but the acidity that opens the pores in the tooth enamel which allows staining. Strong enamel does not stain! says Dr. Ellie Phillips. I have been making a drink with lemon, turmeric, honey, pepper and hot water. I’m VERY careful with the turmeric because it stains my countertop. However, I have …
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Oral Cavity Biopsies: 3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts
My first biopsy was misread as hyperkeratosis when in fact it was moderate dysplasia. I should have been flagged two years before I was diagnosed with Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma on the lateral border of my tongue. Here is what I learned about biopsies: They are not 100% definitive. Why? Imprecise tissue sampling; Improper tissue handling; inaccurate interpretation. I …
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Six-Step Salute: Jill Meyer-Lippert, RDH
Today, the Six-Step Salute goes to Jill Meyer-Lippert, RDH (Shoreline-Legacy Dental in Wisconsin) for catching thyroid cancer in a thorough extra oral screening on her patient Irene. Here is what they both dental professional and patient have to say: From Jill Meyer-Lippert, RDH: “I have had too many occasions of seeing something under an auto-fluorescence light that I would have surely missed …
Oral Cancer Screenings: New Technology
No screening device can replace a visual and tactile oral cancer screening. However, when a practice has a screening device, they must use it regularly to be proficient. If a fee is charged, and it’s sprung on the patient while they are sitting in the chair, it becomes uncomfortable, especially if the patient has a tight budget. If a dental …