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Greetings!

Autumn is finally here! This is the time of year when we start preparing for all of the holidays in the coming months.  Don't forget to stay on top of your dental healthcare as well. Until next time,

 

Be well, Live Well, Do Well!

  

Sincerely,
Sunita Merriman 
It's Not Just a Cleaning!
The link between oral disease and your health

oral canceroral cancer 

A 43 year old female patient presented with a chronic 'ulcer' on the right side of her tongue. I immediately referred her to an oral-maxillofacial surgeon for a biopsy. The diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma which is a malignant tumor. Surgery involved resection of a portion of her tongue and immediate reconstruction with a graft taken from her left wrist. Another graft was harvested from her right leg to cover the donor site. There was no lymph node involvement. The patient has made a remarkable recovery in function and spirits with the help of a skilled surgical team and the support of her family and friends. I spoke with her before writing this article in order to get her permission to share her story. She said, "Absolutely, please do so - I hope no one else skips their routine 6 month appointments with their dentist and hygienist like I did for a while before my diagnosis." 

   

Today, research is revealing a strong link between oral disease and your general health. Heart disease, the incidence of a stroke, diabetes, low birth weight of infants and other conditions are associated with oral disease. This link is what Dr. Merriman and her team focus on when evaluating your gums in addition to all the other local conditions they are checking for: cavities, bite and esthetic issues, broken down and faulty restorations, missing teeth, etc. Your entire mouth is thoroughly and carefully examined by Dr. Merriman and her hygienist for growths, irritation areas and lesions.


This article, It's Not Just a Cleaning!, lists the services Dr. Merriman and her team provides when you visit us for your 3 or 6 month continuing care appointment.

Tip of the Month
Oral Cancer Screening
 
If you experience any of these symptoms, please make an appointment to see Dr. Merriman immediately, even if you are not due for your check up.  
 
  • Lump or thickening of oral soft tissue      
  • Soreness or 'lump' in throat
  • Ear pain
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Difficulty moving jaw or tongue
  • Hoarseness
  • Numbness of tongue or mouth
  • Swelling of the jaw

oral cancer ribbon 

Practice News

 

Office Renovation: We are very excited to share with you that we are renovating our office! During the construction, it will be business as usual and we are available for all your non clinical needs. We will be available for any emergencies that may occur and have added more days to our schedule before and after the construction to accomodate your 'end of year' needs so please call as soon as possible so we can ensure that your treatment and continuing care can be scheduled in a timely fashion. Anticipated dates of construction are from October 24th through November 12th, 2011. We can't wait to see you in our new facility!

 

Patient Referral Reward Program: It's been almost 12 years since we opened our practice in Westfield. Our incredible growth in the number and the quality of patients in our practice is a direct result of the 'word of mouth' that our patients have done for us. As a token of our gratitude for their trust in us and as a thank you for being so enthusiastic about our office, we have introduced a Patient Referral Reward Program. Please call us to find out more about this and know that we love welcoming your friends and family to our special practice.

 

Laser Dentistry: We are excited to announce the addition of laser dental treatments in our practice! A wide variety of soft tissue applications of lasers will make your treatment pain free and accelerate the healing process. Ask us about immediate relief of painful oral canker sores/ulcers with a single laser treatment.

 

Invisalign Special: If you ever thought of straightening your teeth, now is an incredible opportunity. Schedule a free consult and find out if invisible braces are appropriate for you.

 

Just a Reminder: Insurance reimbursement money and flex benefits do not carry over a calendar year so will go to waste if you neglect to use it by December 31, 2011. If you need dental treatment or are due for your continuing care, now is the time to book your appointment.  

 

Friend us on Facebook: Follow us on Facebook for dental tips, wellness discussions, special savings and practice happenings. We also enjoy celebrating our patients and bring you information that hopefully educates, entertains and enlightens us all. We will be having a raffle this Thanksgiving for 2 gift certificates worth $50 each from The Bath Junkie and The Brick Oven Pizza in Westfield. All Facebook users that liked us by then are eligible. Ask your friends and family to join in on the fun because you never know!

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