As the air cools and Halloween approaches, we’re excited to embrace all things fall! This season, we’re spotlighting Dental Hygiene Month and raising awareness about the importance of oral cancer screenings. We also want to thank you for your amazing support in the Best of the Best campaign—it means so much to us! Additionally, we have an important update for our CareFirst patients, so be sure to read on for all the details. Here’s to a wonderful season filled with bright smiles!
In This Issue:
- Oral Cancer Screening
- Dental Hygiene Month
- Access Our Website in Your Preferred Language
- Best of the Best – Thank You for Your Votes!
- Happy Diwali!
- Open Enrollment Season – Important Insurance Update for CareFirst Patients
- Recipe of the Month: Warm Bacon and Brussel Sprouts Salad
- Please Leave us a Review!
THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL CANCER SCREENINGS BY YOUR DENTIST
Oral cancer might not be something that’s on your mind, but getting screened for oral cancer by your dentist can save your life. It’s pretty common: About 1 in 10,000 people will have oral cancer in their lifetime, and it doesn’t just affect smokers or older adults. 1 in 4 people who develop oral cancer don’t have any known risk factors, and early symptoms can be unnoticeable to the untrained eye. Anyone can develop it, including kids, non-smokers, and even those without teeth. Let’s talk about why a quick screening during your dental visit is so important, and what you should know.
What Is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is a broad term for cancer that affects any tissue in your mouth—like your lips, tongue, gums, the inside of your cheeks, or the roof and floor of your mouth. Oral cancer can even spread to your head and neck if left untreated, making it a serious health issue. The good news? When caught early, treatment is much easier, and there’s a better chance of avoiding any lasting damage to your face, mouth, and jaw.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
Oral cancer can be tricky to detect on your own. Per the NIH (National Institutes of Health), here are a few symptoms that could signal a problem if they last two or more weeks:
- A sore, irritation, lump, or thick patch in your mouth, lip, or throat.
- A white or red patch in your mouth.
- Persistent sore throat – a feeling that something is caught in your throat, or hoarseness or loss of your voice.
- A lump in the neck.
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
- Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue.
- Swelling of your jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable.
- Pain or bleeding in your mouth.
- Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth.
- Ear pain not associated with swimming or a cold.
Many of these symptoms don’t hurt in the beginning, so they’re easy to miss or brush off. NOTE: What might look like a harmless sore or ulcer could actually be something more serious.
Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Self-Testing
While self-observation is beneficial, it’s not a substitute for a professional screening by your dentist. Dentists are trained to detect subtle signs that you may not recognize, especially in areas that are hard to see or feel. Remember, what might seem to you like a minor ulcer or cold sore could actually be an early sign of oral cancer. Regular dental visits provide an opportunity for your dental professionals to look deeper and catch issues before they become more serious.
How Oral Cancer is Diagnosed
During the examination, your dentist or dental hygienist will check your face, neck, lips, entire mouth, and the back of the throat for possible signs of cancer. If the clinician finds anything unusual, they will recommend additional tests such as a biopsy to confirm whether a lesion or area is cancerous. A biopsy is the removal of a small sample of tissue for further examination. Usually you will be referred to an oral surgeon or oncologist (cancer specialist) for this procedure. Depending on the results, the oral surgeon or oncologist will guide the next steps in your care plan.
In Conclusion
Getting an oral cancer screening is essential to enable early detection and successful treatment. Regardless of how many teeth you have, make sure to visit your dentist at least once a year to get an oral cancer screening—it’s a simple step that can save your life.
Sources:
DENTAL HYGIENE MONTH
October is Dental Hygiene Month—a perfect time to focus on keeping our smiles healthy! We know that brushing and flossing daily are essential, but they’re only part of the picture. Regular cleanings and checkups with your dentist are vital because they catch what at-home brushing can’t, like plaque buildup in hard-to-reach places, early signs of tooth decay, and gum disease.
You might wonder, “If I’m brushing well, why do I still need cleanings?” Even with the best brushing and flossing habits, plaque can build up in those tight spaces, hardening into tartar. Only professional cleanings can fully remove tartar and prevent it from causing inflammation, gum disease, and eventual tooth loss. This is where tools like ultrasonic scalers come in. Using high-frequency vibrations, they remove built-up plaque and hardened tartar in areas that are otherwise impossible to reach at home. Regular checkups also let us catch potential issues early, which helps you avoid more serious (and costly) treatments later on. Take a look at this video to see the ultrasonic scaler in action!
Skipping dental visits can lead to more than just plaque buildup. Without professional care, small issues like minor decay can quickly become larger problems, like larger cavities or infections that require more intensive treatments. Gum disease can also progress without treatment, affecting not only your teeth but also your overall health. We recently shared a video series on our youtube channel on the Stages of Gum Disease. We recommend taking a look to really understand the importance of regular dental check-ups.
This Dental Hygiene Month, remember that regular dental visits are essential for a healthy smile and a healthy life. If it’s time for your next cleaning, we’d love to see you! If not, we would like to share with you this compilation of Dental Care at Home videos to help you stay on track until your next visit.
ACCESS OUR WEBSITE IN YOUR PREFERRED LANGUAGE!
Did you know that you can translate any website into your preferred language? On our
website, you can select a preferred language from the dropdown in our header (top right side).
Or head to Google Translate, enter “drhlevyassoc.com” on the left, and choose your language on the right. This tool allows you to browse our site in the language that’s most comfortable for you, making information about your dental health even easier to access!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING OUR BEST OF THE BEST CAMPAIGN
We know that we’re the Best of the Best Dental Practice in Frederick because of the trust and support you give us every day! Regardless of the final results, we are very grateful for your participation in the three phases of the Frederick News Post’s contest!
The photo at the top portrays dental assistant Annette and Dr. Levy, two key players in our hospital dentistry effort to provide care to those patients who are unable to receive it in our office.
In the past weeks, we shared real stories with you on our Facebook page—such as welcoming Pauline, who recently moved from the West Coast. Pauline connected with our fantastic hygienist, Flora, and has been loving her experience as part of our dental family. She’s also enjoying the perks of our in-house discount plan, the Dental Health Club, which helps her keep her smile bright and healthy!
Dr. Somerville may have retired, but he can’t seem to stay away from the Best of the Best Dental Practice—after all, he helped us build that reputation! We love it when he drops by for a visit. Last time we shot a quick photo of him with Assistant Practice Manager Sam and Front Desk Coordinators Kari and Chelsea. We miss his warm hugs and hearing him sing in the halls. We hope you’re enjoying retirement, Dr. Somerville!
Meet Raymon! He started with us as a child over a decade ago, and now, as a young adult, he still trusts our team to keep his smile bright. Raymon loves seeing Brandon and Dr. Patel, and he thinks we’re the Best of the Best—just like we think he is!
We’re not just like a family—some of us actually are! Did you know that our amazing front desk coordinator, Chelsea, is dental assistant Kristy’s niece? Chelsea grew up visiting her aunt at our practice, and when an opportunity came up to work with us, she was excited to join the team.
It’s been a joy having Kristy and Chelsea working side by side, and we’re grateful for the positive energy they bring every day.
Masai is one of our biggest Dr. Patel fans! He’s been coming to our practice for close to twenty years, and now his wife and two kids are part of our dental family too. It’s been a pleasure for us to watch his family grow with us over the years.
Rodney and Kristy have become true icons in our practice, and we’re so lucky to count on such experienced dental assistants! Rodney is our very own MacGyver, keeping the office running smoothly, while Kristy is our unofficial weather reporter—often more accurate than a meteorologist!
We hope their fun personalities make your visits entertaining, just as they help us get through the daily grind.
When Oscar joined our team, it was the perfect fit. He’s brought creative ideas to our practice, and our patients love him just as much as we do. Oscar and Chelsea have become the best of buds and are a dynamic duo at the front desk!
Together with dental hygienist Donna, they proudly represented our practice at Frederick Pride with the support of our entire team.
.
Thank you for every vote, visit, and shared smile. Winners in all categories will be announced on November 9th! You can check out to see who won here: https://frederick.hometownguru.com/
HAPPY DIWALI!
Happy Diwali to all who celebrate! Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is a time to gather with loved ones, celebrate new beginnings, and spread joy. May this season bring you prosperity, happiness, and bright moments. We wish you a Diwali filled with warmth, laughter, and beautiful memories!
OPEN ENROLLMENT SEASON – IMPORTANT INSURANCE UPDATE FOR CAREFIRST PATIENTS
Starting January 1, 2025, we will no longer be in-network with CareFirst. We want to reassure you that if you have out-of-network benefits through Carefirst, you can still continue receiving care in our office! We’ll work with your benefits and submit claims on your behalf, and we offer financing options as well.
During open enrollment, our front desk coordinators are ready to discuss your options such as other insurances we’re in network with or our Dental Health Club. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. We’re committed to making this a smooth transition for you!
Recipe of the Month: Warm Bacon and Brussel Sprouts Salad
Source: https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a40993149/shaved-brussels-sprouts-warm-apple-cider/
This Brussels sprouts salad is a Thanksgiving favorite! It’s a great way to use up Brussels sprouts, and the addition of bacon adds a savory touch. The star, though, is the apple cider vinaigrette—sweet, tangy, and a perfect fall flavor. If you haven’t tried raw Brussels sprouts in a salad before, don’t worry; modern varieties are mild and deliciously crunchy, making them ideal for holiday salads.
Ingredients
- 1/4 c. fresh apple cider
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon, thinly sliced
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and thinly sliced
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 1/2 c. roughly chopped pecans, toasted
Instructions
- Whisk together cider, Dijon, whole grain mustard, vinegar, and oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to a bowl, and pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat. Add shallot to skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until starting to soften, about 1 minute. Add Brussels sprouts and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until tender, 4 to 6 minutes; transfer to the bowl with bacon.
- Add dressing to skillet and cook, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet, just until starting to thicken, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Return bacon and Brussels sprouts to skillet and toss to coat. Discard thyme. Serve warm topped with pecans.
Notes
- Make it ahead of time and serve cold – it’s still delicious!
- Use a cheese grater or food processor to shave the brussel sprouts
- You may use turkey, vegetarian or vegan bacon, or no bacon at all