How Should You Care For Your Teeth After a Transplant?
After undergoing a solid organ or stem cell transplant, when is the ideal time to return back to the dentist? Ideally, except for emergency dental care, it is recommended that patients who undergo transplants wait to receive dental treatment for at least three months. Often, right after receiving a transplant, patients receive high doses of immunosuppressive medications so that their body will accept the transplant. Although these medications are essential for a transplant, t
Another reason to get enough zzz's
"That we are not much sicker and much madder than we are is due exclusively to that most blessed and blessing of all natural graces, sleep." - Aldous Huxley Ahh sleep. It feels great. We know that it is essential for memory formation, wound healing, and building up the immune system, but did you know that sleep deprivation can even affect stem cells? According to a recent study by Stanford University School of Medicine, depriving stem cell donors of sleep poorly effects the e
Stem cell transplant, bone marrow transplant: what's the difference?
A life saving procedure, bone marrow transplants are a type of stem cell transplant used to treat a variety of conditions including multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and disseminated metastatic disease. But what exactly is a bone marrow transplant and how does it work? In essence, a bone marrow transplant involves killing the cancerous cells, jumpstarting the immune system, and then transplanting new cancer-free immature ce
The 411 on Mucositis
What is it? Mucositis is inflammation of the mucosa which is lines the gastrointestinal tract. Characterized by mouth sores, intraoral mucosal redness, tissue sloughing, and a burning sensation, mucositis is an acute side effect associated with radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants. It may affect any tissues in the oral cavity but is more commonly seen on movable mucosa such as the buccal mucosa (cheeks), lips, tongue and soft palate. Not just limited t
How Does Chemotherapy Affect Oral and Dental Health?
Although there are side effects associated with chemotherapy, it is important to note that the side effects typically resolve when patients end their treatment. To oversimplify chemotherapy, it interferes with the metabolism and reproduction of tumor cells also known as neoplastic cells. In the process of altering the metabolism and reproduction of these cells, chemotherapy also affects other rapidly dividing cells in the body including the cells responsible for defending the
Dental Management and Cancer Therapy: Some Important Information to Know Before Undergoing Invasive
Cancer therapy affects the entire human body, including the oral cavity. Poor oral hygiene and health has been linked to an increased risk of developing oral side effects associated with cancer treatment regimens as well as an increased severity of these conditions. Thus, it is highly recommended that patients visit a dentist with dental oncology training prior to receiving any cancer therapy to help reduce the risk of developing these oral complications. When should I visit
The Oral and Dental Conditions Associated with Stem Cell Transplants: A Closer Look
Indubitably, hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are lifesaving and have transformed the field of medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) may involve either the transfer of stem cells from one individual to another, known as an allogeneic HSCT or the return of the harvested cells to the same person known as an autologous HSCT. Nonetheless, these treatments are linked to orofacial conditions mainly due to the immunosuppressive nature of the pre-transplant t