Alan's Dental Blog

First and foremost, we here at Dr. Pan's office would like to take a moment to offer our sincerest condolences to all those currently affected by oral cancer and to those that have lost a loved one to this vicious disease. The Facts Oral Cancer is a growing problem in America, especially among men. Men account for 2/3 of new diagnosis. About 50,000 people will be diagnosed in 2018. Of those, only about half will live past 5 years. There is a growing number of cases not linked to traditional risk-factors such as alcohol or tobacco use. Early detection is vital to a good long term prognosis What is causing it? Cases of mouth and throat cancer has increased 300% in the last 20 years! There are a number of risk factors associated with Oral and Oropharyngeal(head and neck) cancers. One of the leading causes continues to be tobacco use, especially chew or snuff, causing oral cavity cancers. In addition, alcohol use increases your susceptibility, as well as age, diet lo

Hi Everyone, today we will be discussing Periodontal Disease and ways to prevent it as well as treatment options should you already be affected.  Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria that live in your mouth. We all have the bacteria, some a little more or a little less than others, or maybe a different strain but it is all there. It is when we don't keep the bacteria levels under control that it can have serious repercussions. It can cause Halitosis (bad breath, Ew!), red and swollen gums, gum recession, tooth sensitivity, tenderness of the gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, bone loss, and even changes in the way your teeth fit together or tooth loss! Periodontal disease is not very well understood by most people. It is normally thought of to be a disease that is pretty rare or uncommon, but in fact it is a lot more common than you might think. According to the CDC: " 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disea