Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer is a type of cancer that often goes unnoticed because it has very few signs and symptoms that patients notice. This is why Dr. Sanjeev Sharma performs free oral cancer screenings during each routine visit here at Radiance Dental in Vancouver, Washington.

 

Our patients who have a bi-annual dentist visit also receive a screening for oral cancer by Dr. Sharma. He looks for signs of cancer on the tongue, gums, inside and outside the mouth, cheeks and lips. The exam goes as follows:

 

1) Patients are asked to remove any partials or dentures.

2) Dr. Sharma looks at the outside of their face, cheeks, lips, neck and mouth for sores and other signs of oral cancer.

3) He then feels underneath the jaw and neck for lumps.

4) He inspects the inside of the mouth next, starting with the cheeks and lips.

5) He thoroughly exams the tongue, followed by the roof and floor of the mouth.

6) Finally, the gums are looked at carefully for signs of oral cancer.

 

Oral cancer is more treatable when it is caught early. We provide oral cancer screenings for every patient, regardless of their age. If we find a lump or sore, we order more tests to confirm the diagnosis.

 

If you haven’t had an oral cancer screening recently, or ever, we encourage you to contact us directly at (360) 369-6420 to schedule an appointment for this important preventative screening.

Periodontal Disease

If left undiagnosed and untreated, periodontal disease can do some serious, irreversible damage to your smile.  Periodontal disease can also compromise your overall health, making you more susceptible to infections, malnutrition and other serious complications.  At Radiance Dental, we’re committed to educating our patients on the risks of periodontal disease and what they can do to prevent its harmful effects.

One of the best ways to stop periodontal disease before it starts is to practice diligent oral hygiene. This includes daily brushing and flossing, maintaining a sensible healthy diet, reducing sugar, alcohol and tobacco, and staying current with regular dental checkups.

It’s also important to be on the lookout for any warning signs that could indicate the early stages of periodontal disease, these include:

• Bleeding of the gums during or after brushing and flossing.
• Redness, swelling, soreness and discomfort that affect your gums on a regular basis.
• Gum recession and exposed portions of the tooth root
• Bad breath or a foul taste regardless of what you’ve recently eaten or even after you’ve brushed and rinsed.
• Loose or easily moveable teeth.
• Changes in bite alignment or the stability of prosthetic dental work

If you notice any of the above symptoms, please contact us at Radiance Dental promptly and arrange a consultation with Dr. Sanjeev Sharma.  We have appointments available to meet your scheduling needs.  Call 360-369-6420 today!

Dental Implants

If you’re considering dental implants for your smile restoration, you’re making a smart choice. As a tooth prosthetic, dental implants provide a unique set of benefits over other smile restorative options.  While bridges, partial and full dentures are all reliable options for smile restoration, dental implants deliver a real look, feel and longevity unlike no other.

 

When weighing the advantages of dental implants over other dental reconstructive options, consider the following:

• If you are an adult, your age alone won’t restrict you from dental implants.  From teens to seniors, dental implants have been successfully used to replace a missing tooth or teeth.
• They can be used in both your top and bottom jaw, at multiple sites and can even be used to restore your entire smile.
• Other healthy teeth do not need to be modified or disturbed for your implant placement.  There’s no need for wires, external framework, adhesives or support that affect neighboring tooth.
• Dental implants look and feel natural.  They will not affect your speech, eating and appearance.
• With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime and do not require replacement or adjustment.
• Dental implants require no additional maintenance beyond brushing, flossing and regular periodontal care.
• Because of their placement that’s similar to the natural root of the tooth, dental implants reduce bone loss and prevent atrophy of the jawbone.

While these advantages sound ideal for just about anyone in need of a replacement tooth, the very best way to determine if dental implants will be the most successful option for your smile restoration is to arrange a free dental implant consultation with us at Radiance Dental in Vancouver, WA.

Full Mouth Fixed Bridge

At Radiance Dental, we offer a multitude of ways for our patients to restore their smiles, from implants to dentures to bridges. The full mouth fixed bridge is a restorative option chosen by many of our patients in Vancouver, WA to replace an entire row of missing teeth. Full mouth bridges are fixed over dental implants—usually six to eight—and are not removable, offering patients the peace of mind of knowing their bridge will not come out at an inconvenient time.

 

While a convenient and popular option among patients who are missing multiple teeth, fixed bridges are not suitable for all patients. Patients must have enough bone mass and gum tissue in their mouths to support the arch. If they do, then the full mouth fixed bridge offers a natural-looking way to complete their smiles.

 

If you are interested in receiving a full mouth fixed bridge, schedule an appointment with Dr. Geetika Chawla to determine if you would be a good candidate. Dr. Chawla also performs soft tissue grafting and bone grafting if needed for dental implant placement. These procedures are usually performed months before dental implant placement to allow for healing.

 

Call (360) 369-6420 to schedule an appointment. For more information on Dr. Chawla, our practice or our services, visit www.radiancedentalnw.com. 

Dental Implants

If you have teeth missing or are in need of an extraction due to decay, disease or injury, dental implants provide an attractive and long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile. While bridges and dentures can also solve the problem of missing teeth, these alternatives either require alteration to the teeth adjacent to the gap or are not permanent fixtures in the mouth. At our office in Vancouver, WA, Dr. Geetika Chawla uses dental implant restorations to help you achieve a complete smile that you can be proud of.

The implant process can take between three to six months to complete, and the first step is to implant a titanium screw in the jawbone through an incision in the gums. This screw serves as your replacement tooth root and keeps your jaw from deteriorating or changing shape. Once the screw is in place, the gums are sutured and the bone is left to heal around the implant. The healing process is called osseointegration, and while it takes place over the next several months, you may receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

Once the jaw has healed, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant to serve as the foundation on which your permanent crown will be fixed. The tooth restoration is then custom made for your mouth and is either screwed or cemented in place so that you may enjoy a complete smile that both looks and feels natural.

To schedule an appointment at Radiance Dental, call (360) 369-6420. For more information, visit www.RadianceDentalNW.com.