Maxillofacial prosthetics
As Bakersfield's only full
time Board Certified Prosthodontist, I have the privilege of working with the
area's finest head and neck tumor surgeons. Many times I have found myself in the
operating room with these expert physicians fashioning intraoral appliances for
patients undergoing tumor surgery. This
area of treatment is called Maxillofacial Prosthetics.
Oral cancer
Although the prognosis for long term survival
is improving for many types of cancers, depression and death by suicide among
patients with cancer is a concern. In a
study of 32,487 patients, Yu, etal., reported in the Archives of Otolarygology
and Head and Neck Surgery, compared changes in cause of death in four time periods
from 1980 to 2007. They used standard
mortality ratios to compare deaths from suicide, cardiovascular disease and
pneumonia among patients with oral cancer and oral pharyngeal cancer. Over the 27 year period, cardiovascular disease related deaths decreased by 45.9% and pneumonia related deaths
decreased by 42.9%. However, suicide
deaths increased by 406.2%. The
significant increase in suicide rates are tied to risk factors such as age 55
to 64 years, certain marital status (divorced, separated or never married),
advanced tumor stage, treatment with radiotherapy alone and pharyngeal tumor
location. Depression is a treatable
condition and suicide is often preventable. Because of long-standing professional
relationships with their patients and the ability for oral cancer screening at
dental visits, dentists may be in a position to provide appropriate support and
referral for early intervention for patients with oral cancer.
Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 |
www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309
