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April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

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April has come, which means that it is officially oral cancer awareness month. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, it is an unfortunate fact that an average of 4,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Oral cancer is often the least thought of cancer which comes to mind among people, which means that it is usually disregarded when symptoms occur. It is very important to know about the signs and symptoms, causes, and methods of how to prevent the development of oral cancer.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer

One may think that cancer of the mouth is not as severe of a condition as the many other forms which are more commonly known such as lung or liver cancer, or leukemia. Although treatable, oral cancer can be just as lethal as the many other forms.

The symptoms of oral cancer are quite distinct such as:

  • Experiencing a constant pain in specific areas of the mouth, tongue and throat.
  • Sores which bleed and do not heal within a short period of time.
  • Lumps.

It is important to regularly visit a dentist for routine checkups so your dentist can inspect your mouth to detect abnormal tissue, discoloration, and any other physical signs of oral cancer.

Causes of Oral Cancer

It is well known that excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco use are big contributors to the development of oral cancer. Many of those who have contracted the human papilloma virus (HPV) are also at high risk for developing oral cancer. Many people also develop oral cancer from unknown causes. It is a great idea to avoid excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco products, and to wear a sunblock balm on your lips while you are exposed to the sun for long periods of time.

What You Can do to Help Prevent Oral Cancer

Make a point of going to routine checkups with your dentist to detect oral cancer in its early stages. Your chances of recovery are incredibly improved when it is detected quickly. Do your best to donate to an oral cancer charity if you have money to spare, and volunteer yourself to help the people who are currently fighting oral cancer.

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I'm A Patient

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Nicole Z

She had always wanted a new smile for graduation. Nicole had worked her whole school life to become a lawyer and she wanted a smile to match her academic accomplishment. She had some size discrepancies and positioning of her teeth. So, after sending in a Smile Virtual consult and looking at her personal video she knew what she wanted to do. We decided to have 10 conservative veneers done to widen her smile and correct the tooth size she was concerned about. Her graduation pictures were beautiful.

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Nicole J

Nicole had braces when she was younger and also had some gum surgery that left some scarring. She sent me a Smile Virtual consult request to see if there was anything possible to correct her smile. I was able to describe what was possible in her personal video. She never thought that what I described was possible. She decided to move ahead after her consultation. We were able to correct the past orthodontic care and gum treatment with a gum lift and 10 veneers. She had a beautiful result for her wedding pictures

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Jenn

She had seen all the other patients we worked with on Instagram. She really liked what she saw, and wanted to know more. She clicked the link in my Bio, submitted a selfie smile, and I sent her a personal video through Smile Virtual. I went through the veneer process and examples of other smiles, and how much things would cost. She liked what she saw and asked to schedule an appointment. We delivered 10 veneers other top teeth and 8 veneers on the bottom.

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Maria

Maria had treatment in another country. This treatment created discolouring, uneven surfaces, and shapes. She wanted her smile whiter and even. Because there was a language barrier, the Smile Virtual Consult created a perfect opportunity to show her what was possible. After looking at her personal video, she decided to have 10 conservative veneers. She finally achieved her perfect smile.

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Nicole P

She had a nice wide smile, but her teeth always looked small. She had tried whitening, but that didn’t achieve the look she wanted. After going through the details of her smile on the Smile Virtual consult, she saw how her gums were creating asymmetries. She decided that she wanted to have 12 veneers with a gum lift. The gum lift helped to create the perfect frame and size for her beautiful new smile.

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Lexi

She was not happy with the shape and position of her teeth. A side tooth was missing, and her bite caused functional issues. With a Smile Virtual consult she was able to hear that I had a deep knowledge base about bite issues and she could see that we could correct old dental work. 9 porcelain veneers and an implant crown were done to transform her smile.
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