A mouth cancer expert has welcomed two new treatments for patients suffering with cancer. MuGard is a mouth rinse for prevention and management of the lesions and symptoms of oral mucositis.
Head and neck cancer patients often suffer severe mucosal ulcerations and soreness as side-effects of these treatments and will benefit from using it.The other product is Xerotin, a ready-to-use moisturising mouth spray for the relief of the dry mouth (Xerostomia), a common side-effect of radiation damage to the salivary glands.
Oral complications are common in patients receiving radiation and or chemotherapy treatment especially in the head and neck area.
The Mouth Cancer Foundation's Dr Vinod Joshi welcomed the new mouth rinse and spray. He said: ‘These new options could provide much-needed respite for patients. They will be grateful if MuGard is effective in delaying the onset of oral mucositis and reducing its severity. He added: ‘Following radiotherapy and or chemotherapy, many patients also suffer from a dry mouth. Xerotin's ability to lubricate and moisturise the mouth will offer a new option for patients. Xerotin has a neutral pH and will not be damaging to teeth.'
Rites of passage for American teenagers include obtaining a driver's license, high school graduation, voting for the first time, and for many, prophylactic (preventive) extraction of their (third molar) extraction.
Generally, dentists believe that the removal of third molars before the age of 22 prevents later disease and difficulty. Some dentists who specialize in public health opine that because only about one of eight third molars ever cause significant health problems, it does not make sense to remove them all. Information continues to evolve and will effect the future of dental treatment recommendations and patients' comfort with their own decisions
The web site of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, www.aaoms.org, carries a report titled "White Paper on Third Molar Data." This thorough paper enumerates the reasons for prophylactic extraction of third molars. The authors refer to recent studies demonstrating that periodontal disease around third molars is a cause for more serious ailments including coronary artery disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, and obstetric complications. Additionally, the AAOMS asserts that retained wisdom teeth of pregnant women are likely to cause low birth weight of their offspring.
The links between periodontal disease and systemic illness and low birth weight are driving dental insurance companies to cover more frequent dental care for some individuals. Medical associations and medical insurance companies advise physicians to refer their patients for dental treatment. Linking periodontal disease to third molars would have the effect of increasing demand for third molar extraction.
