Studies show a link between
breast cancer and dental health. After
heart disease, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women
in the United States. You may be 11
times more likely to develop breast cancer if you have poor oral health or
periodontal disease. The Journal of
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment conducted a survey of over 3,000 women and
found that individuals with chronic periodontal disease had a higher occurrence
of breast cancer. Given that about 1 in
8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime,[1]
many women’s lives could be saved if breast
cancer was diagnosed earlier, and early diagnosis could be achieved if there
were more and easier opportunities to do so.
The method of early diagnosis is
not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but researchers found
that the protein levels in saliva have shown the potential to assist in the
diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care of breast cancer. Salivary testing has some real advantages
over blood testing. The collection of
saliva is safe, non-invasive, and collectible without causing a patient any
pain or discomfort. Dentists would be
the appropriate health care provider to take periodic saliva samples during
regularly scheduled visits. Properly
integrated into the examination process, this would aid patients and physicians
before, during, and after diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
The use of saliva testing would
be an annual adjunct bench mark in women’s annual health care. Patients would still need to undergo routine
breast cancer exams, including mammography and blood tests, but there should be
a greater chance of early detection with the use of all of these screening
tests.
Given the links, good oral health
care is very important to your global health care. If we can be of service or answer any of your
questions feel free to contact us.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
www.rightsmilecenter.com
[1] In
2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to
be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive
breast cancer, with almost 40,000 deaths in 2011 alone.
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