Cancer Screening
Cancer screening is routinely carried out at your dental health check, giving us the opportunity to detect any abnormal areas in your mouth that may need further investigation. Facts about mouth cancer:
More than 300 cases in Ireland every year
- More common in men but the incidence in women is increasing every year
- According to the National Registry in Ireland, on average half of all mouth cancers are diagnosed at an early stage
- Late detection results in more complex treatment with a greater impact on quality of life and overall survival
Early Detection of mouth cancer greatly improves the chances of survival.
How to ensure a healthy mouth
- Visit a dentist regularly, even if you wear dentures.
- When brushing, look for any changes in your mouth or neck. Early warning signs include ulcers that are not healing within 3 weeks, red or white patches in the mouth, or unusual changes in the mouth or neck.
- When exposed to the sun, use a high SPF barrier cream on your lips.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. A good diet rich in vitamins A, C and E helps the body to protect itself from most cancers.
- Avoid the risk factors for mouth cancer. These include –
- Smoking tobacco – cigarettes, roll-ups, cigars, pipes or cannabis
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Using both tobacco and alcohol together – this greatly increases your risk
- Excessive exposure to sunlight or radiation
- Chewing tobacco
- A diet lacking in fruit and vegetables
- Viral infections e.g. human papilloma virus (HPV)
- To find out more about mouth cancer, please follow the link to www.cancer.ie
At Nuala Cagney Dental & Facial Aesthetics Clinic our dentist will discuss the treatment options that are available to you.
Routine Checkup
Your check up will include a thorough full mouth examination for dental decay.
Fillings
Our dentists will be happy to discuss all of your options with you and discuss if you are suitable for a white or silver filling.
Extractions
When a tooth is very badly damaged or is causing infection or pain we may need to extract or remove the tooth.
Root Canal Treatment
Root Canal Treatments involve removing damaged or dead nerves and filling the space, this allows your dentist to repair the tooth that is left.
Dentures
These are used to replace missing teeth and are made of plastic. Sometimes metal is also used in order to make them strong and less bulky.
X-Rays
Your dentist may decide to use x-rays to gain more information about your teeth, as they show what is happening inside and around the tooth and its roots.
Fissure Sealants
Fissure sealants are a plastic coating placed on the biting surface of molars which are used to reduce the chances of decay on these surfaces.
Stainless Steel Crowns
Stainless steel crowns are recommended for larger cavities and cavities that involve the nerve of the tooth. These are only suitable for baby (milk) teeth.
Space Maintainers
Baby teeth are needed to hold space for the permanent teeth that are waiting to come in.
Sports Mouthguards
A custom-made mouthguard is one that is made by your dentist following an impression of the teeth and is fitted by your dentist.