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          • Dr Steven Soo
          • Dr Tan Kian Meng
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          • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
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          • Dr Helena Lee
          • Dr Daylene Leong
          • Dr Ben Wang
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          • Dr Irene Sim
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  • SERVICES
    • Teeth Replacement & Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Dental Implants
      • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
      • All-on-4 Dental Implants
      • Dental Crowns
      • Dental Bridges
      • Dentures
      • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Veneers
      • Teeth Whitening
    • Gum Treatment
      • Gum Treatment
      • Gum Grafting
      • Gummy Smile Treatment
    • Oral Surgery & Reconstructive Dentistry
      • Wisdom Tooth Surgery
      • Jaw Surgery
      • Oral Biopsy & Cyst Removal
      • Bone Grafting
      • Sinus Lift
      • Tongue Tie Surgery
      • Reduction of Square Jaw
    • Teeth & Bite Alignment
      • Braces Treatment
      • Invisalign
    • Root Canal Treatment
      • Root Canal Treatment
    • Children’s Dentistry
      • Children’s Dentistry
    • Other Services
      • TMJ (Jaw Joint) Treatment
      • Dental Check-up
      • Dental Emergencies
      • Scaling & Polishing (Teeth Cleaning)
      • Composite Bonding
      • Pre-Surgery Assessment
      • Sleep Apnea
      • Geriatric Care
      • Xerostomia
  • PATIENT INFORMATION
    • We’ve Got You Covered
      • CPF Medisave Claims
      • CHAS | Pioneer Generation Package
      • Financial Arrangement
      • Personal Data Protection Act
    • Pre-Visit Information
      • Pre-registration Form
      • International Patients
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • We answer some of the most common questions on dental treatment and more.
  • MULTISPECIALTY DENTAL TEAM
    • Prosthodontics
      • Dr Steven Soo
      • Dr Tan Kian Meng
      • Dr Edwin Tan
      • Dr Neo Tee Khin
      • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
    • Orthodontics
      • Dr Soh Shean Han
      • Dr May Ling Eide
    • Periodontics Treatment in Singapore
      • Dr Helena Lee
      • Dr Daylene Leong
      • Dr Ben Wang
    • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
      • Dr Ho Kok Sen
    • Endodontics
      • Dr Irene Sim
    • Paedodontics
      • Dr Tabitha Chng
    • Dental Staff
  • About
    • About
      • Our Vision & Mission
      • Our History
      • Why Us
      • Our Facilities
      • Our Community
    • Media Room
      • Media Coverage
      • Dentist Blog
      • Activities
    • Careers
      • Join Us
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT US
    • Get In Touch
      • Make An Appointment
      • Enquiry With Us
    • Our Locations
  • SERVICES
        • Teeth Replacement & Cosmetic Dentistry
          • Dental Implants
          • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
          • All-on-4 Dental Implants
          • Dental Crowns
          • Dental Bridges
          • Dentures
          • Cosmetic Dentistry
          • Veneers
          • Teeth Whitening
        • Gum Treatment
          • Gum Treatment
          • Gummy Smile Treatment
          • Gum Grafting
        • Oral Surgery & Reconstructive Dentistry
          • Wisdom Tooth Surgery
          • Jaw Surgery
          • Oral Biopsy & Cyst Removal
          • Bone Grafting
          • Sinus Lift
          • Tongue Tie Surgery
          • Reduction of Square Jaw
        • Teeth & Bite Alignment
          • Braces Treatment
          • Invisalign
        • Root Canal Treatment
          • Root Canal Treatment
        • Children’s Dentistry
          • Children’s Dentistry
        • Other Services
          • TMJ (Jaw Joint) Treatment
          • Dental Check-up
          • Dental Emergencies
          • Scaling & Polishing (Teeth Cleaning)
          • Composite Bonding
          • Pre-Surgery Assessment
          • Sleep Apnea
          • Geriatric Care
          • Xerostomia
  • PATIENT INFORMATION
        • We’ve Got You Covered
          • CPF Medisave Claims
          • CHAS | Pioneer Generation Package
          • Financial Arrangement
          • Personal Data Protection Act
        • Pre-Visit Information
          • Pre-registration Form
          • International Patients
        • Frequently Asked Questions
          • We answer some of the most common questions on dental treatment and more.
  • MULTISPECIALTY DENTAL TEAM
        • Prosthodontics
          • Dr Steven Soo
          • Dr Tan Kian Meng
          • Dr Edwin Tan
          • Dr Neo Tee Khin
          • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
        • Periodontics Treatment in Singapore
          • Dr Helena Lee
          • Dr Daylene Leong
          • Dr Ben Wang
        • Endodontics
          • Dr Irene Sim
        • Orthodontics
          • Dr Soh Shean Han
          • Dr May Ling Eide
        • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
          • Dr Ho Kok Sen
        • Paedodontics
          • Dr Tabitha Chng
        • Dental Staff
  • About
        • About
          • Our Vision & Mission
          • Our History
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        • Media Room
          • Media Coverage
          • Dentist Blog
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Head and Neck Cancer – How it relates to Dental Treatment

September is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month.  Did you know that nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer in Singapore? It is also the 6th most common cancer in men, affecting 6.4 men per 100,000 population each year and about 1.7 women per 100,000 population each year. It is most common among the Chinese population in Singapore (92% of patients are Chinese), and each year, about 150 people die from NPC.

Common symptoms

Common symptoms of head and neck cancer include:

  • Blood in your saliva
  • Lump in the neck caused by a swollen lymph node
  • Nasal congestion
  • Nose bleeds
  • Hearing loss
  • Frequent ear infections
  • Headaches

Risk factors

Risk factors of nasopharyngeal cancer include:

  • Race – more Asians, particularly Chinese people, are affected than other races
  • Diet – salt-cured food such as salted fish and preserved vegetables tend to be associated with those who have NPC
  • Family history – the chance of developing NPC is higher if a family member has had NPC
  • Gender – more men than women have NPC
  • Lifestyle – smoking cigarettes and alcohol consumption may also be a factor

The Dental Connection

Oral health is closely connected overall health. In the same way, when a person is diagnosed with NPC, since the head and neck area are closely linked with the mouth and teeth, a multidisciplinary approach is optimal.  The head and neck surgeon / ear nose throat (ENT) surgeon works closely with the dental specialist in ensuring that planning for surgery (if required) is done in such a way that the patient can regain as normal a quality of life as possible post-surgery in the areas of speech, chewing and appearance.

In addition to pre-surgical planning and post-surgical rehabilitation, another important consideration is to schedule a dental assessment prior to undergoing cancer treatment (i.e. radiation or chemotherapy) or surgery. Identifying and addressing any outstanding dental issues such as gum diseases and rotten or decayed teeth will assist in minimizing the risk of oral complications during and after treatment.

As there may also be side effects such as dry mouth syndrome (Xerostomia) due to medication, keeping one’s mouth and teeth clean and hydrated is also important in reducing the risk of tooth decay and other oral problems. Find out more about dental care for cancer patients in our previous blog post.

 

 

Cancer Dental Tourism Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Tips for good dental health

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Have a question?

Phone
Mount Elizabeth Clinic
+65 6734 9393
Gleneagles Clinic
+65 6471 5150

Drop us a note at
info@specialistdentalgroup.com

Dental Emergency

Please contact us directly at the emergency contact number on your dentist’s card, or the Mount Elizabeth A&E department at +65 6731 2218, or Gleneagles A&E department at +65 6470 5700.

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Services

  • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
  • All-on-4 Dental Implants
  • Braces Treatment in Singapore
  • Composite Bonding
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Dental Crowns
  • Gum Treatment
  • Gummy Smile Treatment
  • Invisalign
  • Reduction of Square Jaw
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Veneers
  • Bone Grafting
  • Natural Dental Tooth Bridge
  • Children’s Dentistry
  • Dental Check-up
  • Dental Emergencies
  • Dental Fillings
  • Dental Implants in Singapore
  • Gum Grafting
  • Geriatric Care
  • Jaw Surgery
  • Missing Teeth
  • Oral Biopsy & Cyst Removal
  • Pre-Surgery Assessment
  • Reduction of Square Jaw
  • Root Canal Treatment
  • Scaling & Polishing (Teeth Cleaning)
  • Sinus Lift
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Teeth Whitening
  • TMJ (Jaw Joint) Treatment
  • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
  • Tongue Tie Surgery
  • Wisdom Tooth Surgery in Singapore
  • Xerostomia

Patient Information

  • CPF Medisave Claims
  • CHAS | Pioneer Generation Package
  • Financial Arrangement
  • Personal Data Protection Act
  • Pre-registration Form
  • International Patients
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Multispecialty Team

  • Prosthodontics
    • Dr Steven Soo
    • Dr Tan Kian Meng
    • Dr Edwin Tan
    • Dr Neo Tee Khin
    • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
  • Orthodontics
    • Dr Soh Shean Han
    • Dr May Ling Eide
  • Periodontics Treatment in Singapore
    • Dr Helena Lee
    • Dr Daylene Leong
    • Dr Ben Wang
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
    • Dr Ho Kok Sen
  • Endodontics
    • Dr Irene Sim
  • Paedodontics
    • Dr Tabitha Chng
  • Dental Staff

About

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  • Our History
  • Why Us
  • Our Facilities
  • Our Community
  • Media Coverage
  • Dentist blog
  • Activities
  • Join Us

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