The articles below, which will be updated regularly, represent special topics Dr. Esposito would like to present regarding general oral and maxillofacial health.

Oral Cancer of the Tongue

Tongue cancer is one of the most common cancers of the oral cavity, excluding lip cancer and the median age is 60 years.  The primary cancer of the tongue is squamous cell carcinoma.  The most common symptoms are pain and speech difficulties.   Apart from oral leukoplakia, the lesions have a more rapid onset than any other oral cancer.

Surgical resection and early diagnosis remains the mainstay for treatment success.  Adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy are associated with greater long-term survival rates.  These adjuvant therapies are required if the lesions are greater than 10mm or have metastasized to region lymph nodes.  Early diagnosis and biopsy of suspicious lesions of the tongue and floor of mouth have led to clinically significant reductions in rate of recurrence and mortality rates for patients diagnosed with oral cancer of the tongue.  This is another region of dentistry where the vigilant dentist can prolong and improve the quality of life of their patients.

Adapted from International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Prognostic Factors in Oral Tongue Cancer, volume 35, Number 6, June 2006.

Dangers of Second Hand Smoke

U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D. issued a comprehensive scientific report that concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.  Nonsmokers exposed to second hand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30 percent and lung cancer by 20-30 percent.  The finding is of major public health concern because nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to second hand smoke.  The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause immediate harm.  The report says that the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.  Secondhand smoke exposure can cause heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and is a known cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, respiratory problems, ear infections and asthma attacks.  Detailed information is available at www.surgeongeneral.gov.

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