What Is Diode Laser Surgery?

If you are wondering what Diode Laser surgy is and does, read the article below by Melissa Busch, DrBicuspid assistant editor.

April 30, 2020 -- Diode laser surgery can successfully treat white lesions on the lips, promoting quick healing and complete lip restoration without causing bleeding or requiring stitches, according to a recent case report published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.

A diode laser can safely and effectively be used to treat recurrent white lip lesions without any scarring or unappealing aesthetics, according to the authors.

"For white lesions occurring in the lip, diode laser surgery allows for meticulous treatment and helps prevent cosmetic complications while providing effective and safe recovery," wrote the group, led by Domenico De Falco from the faculty of dentistry at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Bari, Italy (Cureus, April 8, 2020, Vol. 12:4, e7585).

The most common malignancy of the oral mucosa, squamous cell carcinoma, accounts for up to 90% of all oral cancers. Persistent or recurrent white lesions of the oral mucosa create a suspicion of malignancy; therefore, they often require biopsy or complete removal. Conventional surgery for potentially malignant lips lesions may result in scarring and other cosmetic complications, so treatment alternatives, such as diode laser surgery, are valuable.

The case

A 32-year-old woman sought treatment for a persistent lesion on her lower lip. The patient said the white plaque was chronic and it had been treated twice in the past. An exam revealed no other lesions in her oral cavity, according to the authors.

The woman agreed to have the lesion removed with a diode laser. She was given local anesthesia, as well as light conscious sedation to reduce dental anxiety, and the lesion was removed. A diode laser with a wavelength of 980 ± 10 nm in a continuous wave, an output energy of 1 W, and a fiber of 320 µm was used. The procedure caused no bleeding and required no stitches, they wrote.

The tissue sample was sent for examination, leading to a diagnosis of friction keratosis, a condition that causes lesions due to chronic biting or sucking. The woman's lip healed completely with no cosmetic complications after 14 days, according to the report.

A promising treatment

This case showed that diode laser surgery allows for the careful, decisive removal of a lesion without thermal damage to the surrounding tissues, bleeding, and unnecessary stitches. It also allows for faster healing and an appealing cosmetic outcome, the group concluded.

Additionally, diode laser surgery can simplify oral surgery procedures, especially those performed on individuals diagnosed with highly contagious diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis C. It minimizes the risk of bleeding and exposure to others.

"The diode laser represents a safe and decisive tool for surgical and nonsurgical treatments in the oral cavity," they wrote.

Fun Facts About Animal Teeth

Since we really cant focus on our own teeth right now given that most dentist offices are closed for routine care, I thought it would be fun to re-post this blog about animals. Here are some facts about different animals I collected from various sites on the web. Just a little fun trivia for everyone to read. Enjoy!

• Beavers, Gophers, Rats, Mice and Hamsters teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. They must grind their teeth down to keep them at a reasonable length.
• A dolphin has only one set of teeth to last throughout it's lifetime.
• An Armadillo has 104 teeth.
• A Blue Whale is the largest mammal on earth but it has absolutely no teeth!
• A Cat's jaws cannot move sideways.
• Turtles and Tortoises are toothless.
• Rabbits are born with their permanent teeth.
• African Elephants have only 4 teeth.
• Mosquitoes have 47 teeth. (They drink blood, what's to chew, lol?)
• A snail has thousands of tiny teeth, yet it's mouth is smaller than the head of a pin!

Keep smiling!!!

Different Types Of Mouthwash Can Help Various Types Of Dental Health

There many types of mouthwashes available in today's market. Every single one claiming to be optimal for perfect dental health. Is that really the case? Here are some things to look for when choosing a mouthwash.

First, you want to check and see if it has alcohol or is alcohol-free. Alcohol dries your mouth and can cause burns to your gums and inside of your cheeks. Alcohol-free is the better option.

Depending on what you and your dentist have come up with for your area of dental focus can sway your decision of what mouthwash to get. It is based on the ingredients in the mouthwash.

Area of Focus:                                          Ingredient:
Better Gum Health                                Cetylpyridinium Chloride
Dry Mouth                                              Biotene
Cavity Protection                                   Sodium Fluoride
Teeth Whitening                                    2% Peroxide

These are just a few examples of ingredients in mouthwash that can help you in whatever area you are wanting to focus on. You, dentist or hygienist, should be able to direct you as to which product they recommend. Always remember that mouthwash is not a replacement for brushing and flossing.

The original post was made on September 24,2014

Reasons To Scrape Your Tongue Every Day!

Did you know that when we are sleeping our digestive system remains awake? If your answer is no, then here is an interesting fact: Our digestive system is removing toxins from our body and depositing them onto the surface of our tongue. If we don't remove these toxins they get reabsorbed into the body causing other problems such as weakened immune system and respiratory problems.

Listed below are some reasons why you should make tongue scraping part of your daily oral health routine:

1. Improves breath: Removing bacteria, food debris, fungi and dead cells from the tongue reduces the odor from your mouth. To get the best results, you will need a tongue scraper, a toothbrush doesn't cut it.
2. Improves taste: Removing the build-up will expose your taste buds. This will lead to better enjoyment of the flavors of your food.
3. Improves dental health: Bacteria that is removed from the tongue are responsible for things like periodontal problems, plaque, build-up, tooth decay, and many others.

Get to know your tongue!
Did you know your tongue us a mirror reflection of your internal organs? By scraping your tongue you are stimulating and massaging those corresponding organs!

Quarantine Fail...

I realize that the enjoyment of being stuck home due to COVID-19 is wearing off and people are starting to become creative to decrease their boredom. I have noticed an increase in tick-tock videos, videos of pranks and magic tricks, which are fun to watch but remember to say safe.

Check out his article "Man sets mouth on fire during stunt at COVID-19 vigil"

By Melissa Busch, DrBicuspid.com assistant editor...

April 9, 2020 -- A man accidentally set his mouth on fire while attempting a stunt during a vigil held in India on April 5 to show support for workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to news reports.

The man, who was not identified, miraculously suffered only minor burns to the inside of his mouth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for India to turn off lights and light candles or flash mobile torches from their balconies for nine minutes on April 5 to show solidarity with "corona warriors" and to "challenge the darkness" that the virus brings. People around the globe have shown their support for doctors, nurses, scientists, healthcare staff, first responders, and other essential workers by sending messages of thanks, applauding, and having meals delivered to those working the hardest during the pandemic.

The fire-breather defied India's lockdown orders to show off his trick, which involves exhaling the fine mist of fuel over an open flame to form a fireball.

On the evening of the vigil, the man walked out into a street in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, which had multiple bystanders.

Seconds into the stunt, the area of the fire-breather's mouth became ignited. His audience rushed to his aid upon seeing the alarming flame coming from his mouth. They tried patting out the flames but ended up taking him to shelter and dousing him with water, extinguishing the fire, according to reports.

Question From Our Member...

Question From Our Member:

B. Scott of Long Island, New York asks: 

I have a strange taste in my mouth and some pain from my tongue.  What could be causing it and what should I do?

Savon’s Answer

After doing some research, here is our best non–medical advice.

The most common causes of pain in the tongue can be from canker sores; cold sores; dehydration; dry mouth; fever (sickness); or thrush.  Thrush can appear as a white lesion that bleeds when scraped or as a red, roundish lesion.

Pain or burning of the tongue can also indicate a vitamin deficiency, such as B12 and/or vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B9.  Other pains in the tongue can be caused by more serious conditions such as oral cancers, which can appear as red and/or white lesions.

Complete loss of taste is called ageusia, partial loss of taste is called hypogeusia, and a distorted sense of taste is called dysgeusia.  The most common cause of strange taste is due to medications.

The most common peculiar taste is a metallic taste, which is associated with some forms of antibiotics, antihistamines, antifungals, antipsychotics, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, seizure medications, and Parkinson´s disease medications.

Other more common conditions that can change one´s taste are dry mouth, colds or flu, smoking, loss of smell, and nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12 and zinc).

If a sore does not go away fairly quickly or if you have a change of taste sensation and you are not taking any medications, we strongly suggest that you consult your dentist for an examination as soon as possible.

_{*The information provided in this answer was derived from “Perio–Implant Advisory”.}

_{**Original post was from our April 2020 Newsletter}