Tag: eukoplakia

What is Leukoplakia?

Leukoplakia is a dental sickness where thick, white areas form on the gums, the insides of the cheeks and the bottom of the mouth. They cannot be rubbed away, and they can sometimes be cancerous. Although some do not agree as to the cause behind the growth of leukoplakia, lots of dentists think that tobacco plays a vital role, so if you chew or smoke tobacco, you might be vulnerable to forming leukoplakia. You could also be at risk for leukoplakia if you have a weak immune system.

While it’s correct that some forms of leukoplakia can be cancerous, most areas are benign. Fortunately, we do an oral cancer screening for you during every one of your visits, so we’ll keep an eye on your mouth and let you know if we see anything suspicious. At home, you can look at the gummy and soft-tissue areas of your mouth for the white, thick areas; please tell us about it if you notice anything you cannot scrape away. Other symptoms of leukoplakia include pain when swallowing and a reduced ability to open your jaw.

If you think you might have leukoplakia, don’t delay in setting up your next checkup with our office in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Drs. Paul Stanovick, Brant Stanovick, and the staff at Paul R. Stanovick, DDS will do all they can to help you keep your oral cavity healthy. Give us a call now at 804-781-1919 to set up your appointment.

Keeping Ahead of COVID-19

Providing a safe environment for treatment and control for infectious disease is always a priority at Paul Stanovick DDS. Our expansive reception area and large outdoor deck provides space to easily support regulations surrounding social distancing. The treatment rooms provide an extra layer of protection as they are sanitized between each patient and provide clean air through air purifiers located in each room. You will see some changes during your next appointment as we have added precautions to protect patients and staff. You will be asked to enter the building with use of facial protection and asked to wear it until you are in the treatment room. Hand sanitizer is also available throughout the whole building for your use. You may notice that our magazine and children’s books have been removed from the reception area as they are harder to disinfect. We have installed plexiglass around our front reception area for added distancing between front staff and patients waiting for appointments. Air purifiers have been placed in every operatory with two larger purifiers in the front and back of the office. We have provided face shields, lab jackets and barrier gowns for all clinical staff. Our hours of operation will still remain Monday -Friday 8am-5pm. We are looking forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about treatment and the safety precautions we are taking here at the practice. If you would like to make an appointment you can give us a call or text 804.781.1919. Thank you for your patience during these changing times and for your trust in us with taking care of your dental needs. Sincerely, Dr. Paul Stanovick, Dr. Brant Stanovick, and Staff.