Stephen C Wallace, DDS, MHS

04/07/2026

Oral cancers are classified in two groups:
Cancers of the oral cavity affect your lips, teeth, gums, the front two-thirds of your tongue, the floor and roof of your mouth and the inside of your cheeks.
Cancers of the oropharynx are found in the throat, tonsils, the base of your tongue and the spot where it attaches to the floor of your mouth. Your throat (pharynx) starts at the soft part of the roof of your mouth and continues back into your throat.
Dentists watch for signs of oral cancer, because finding it early can be the key to successful treatment. More than 54,000 people are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and around 11,000 die from it.

Warning signs that may point to oral cancer
Even though your dental team checks for oral cancer each time you visit, it’s important for you to know the symptoms, too. Call your dentist right away if any of these issues last longer than two weeks:
• A sore or irritation that doesn't go away
• Red or white patches on your gums, tongue or lining of the mouth
• Pain, tenderness or numbness in your mouth or lips
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small rough area
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth
• Loose teeth or dentures that don’t fit well anymore
• The feeling something is caught in your throat
• Being hoarse, or noticing a change in your voice

Risk factors for oral cancer
Males tend to get oral cancer more often than females, and older people are generally at higher risk. You can reduce your risks of developing oral cancer by:
• Avoiding to***co (both smoking and smokeless).
• Drinking only moderate amounts of alcohol.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) has also been linked with throat cancers that form at the back of the mouth. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S., with about 10% of adult males and 3.6% of females carrying the virus. Though most infections go away within two years, some infections stay.
The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that can cause oral cancers, so it may also prevent them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that 11- to 12-year-olds get the HPV vaccine. The agency also recommends the vaccine for everyone through age 26, if they missed getting it earlier. Older adults may choose to have the vaccine after talking with their doctor.

Your dentist can help find oral cancer early
During your regular exam, your dentist will ask about changes in your medical history and whether you’ve been having any new or unusual symptoms. Next, they will check your lips, cheek lining, gums, tongue (front and back), the floor and roof of your mouth, your throat, tonsils and the area where your tongue meets the bottom of your mouth. Your jaw and neck will be examined for lumps or unusual signs.
Dental checkups can save your life by detecting oral cancer early. That’s one more good reason to see your dentist regularly for a thorough dental exam.

What happens if my dentist sees something unusual?
Keep in mind that any warning sign your dentist notices may not necessarily mean you have oral cancer. You may need special tests or a follow-up exam a week or two later to see if the questionable spots have cleared up on their own. Together, you and your dentist can choose the best strategy for testing, diagnosis and treatment (if you need it).

How is oral cancer treated?
Oral cancers that are found early are usually treated with surgery or radiation therapy. Cases that are found later may need a combination of treatments. For example, radiation therapy and chemotherapy might be given at the same time. Another option is targeted therapy, a newer type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to pinpoint and attack cancer cells.

If you have oral cancer, the treatment your cancer care team recommends will depend on your overall health, the area of the mouth or throat where your cancer began, the size and type of tumor and whether or not the cancer has spread.

© 2026 American Dental Association

04/01/2026

Hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Easter. The office will re-open on Tuesday April 7th.

02/01/2026

The office will be closed Monday February 2, 2026 due to wintry conditions. We plan to re-open on Tuesday❄️❄️❄️❄️

11/25/2025

The office is now closed for the Thanksgiving and will reopen on Monday December 1st. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday!!

11/11/2025

New studies link oral health to cerebrovascular health

Dental Tribune International

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 3 November 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C., US: Growing evidence continues to demonstrate the far-reaching impact of oral health on systemic well-being. Just recently, two new studies have strengthened the association between periodontal disease, dental caries and cerebrovascular health, suggesting that maintaining healthy teeth and gingivae may help reduce vascular injury in the brain and lower the risk of stroke.

The first study found that adults with periodontal disease had significantly greater signs of microvascular brain injury. Additionally, the second study reported that participants with both caries and periodontal disease had a higher incidence of ischemic stroke. Both studies highlight the importance of improving oral health in order to mitigate vascular risk factors that can affect the brain.

Previous research has linked periodontitis to a higher risk of ischemic stroke. Likewise, cerebral small vessel disease has been independently associated with ischemic stroke. Therefore, the researchers in the first study investigated whether the two diseases are independently associated. They took MRI brain scans of 1,143 adults with an average age of 77 to look for signs of cerebral small vessel disease—damage to the brain’s small blood vessels that can appear as white matter hyperintensities (bright spots on MRI linked to poor blood flow), cerebral micro-bleeds or previous lacunar infarcts. These brain changes become more common with age and are associated with increased risk of stroke, cognitive impairment and mobility issues.

According to the findings, the participants with periodontal disease had a statistically significantly greater volume of white matter hyperintensities. The difference in volume (as a percentage of brain volume) between those with and without periodontal disease was small but clinically meaningful. These lesions were more extensive among participants with periodontal disease even after adjusting for major vascular risk factors. However, no significant links were found between periodontal disease and cerebral micro-bleeds and lacunar infarcts once confounding factors had been taken into account.

“If future studies confirm this link, it could offer a new avenue for reducing cerebral small vessel disease by targeting oral inflammation,” senior author Prof. Souvik Sen, chair of the neurology department in the School of Medicine Columbia at the University of South Carolina, said in a press release. “For now, it underscores how dental care may support long-term brain health,” he concluded.

The study, titled “Periodontal disease independently associated with white matter hyperintensity volume: A measure of cerebral small vessel disease”, was published online in the December 2025 issue of Neurology.
Caries and periodontal disease may increase stroke risk

In the second study, involving 5,986 adults with an average age of 63, the researchers examined whether periodontal disease in combination with dental caries or alone was associated with later risk of ischemic stroke. The participants had no prior history of stroke at baseline and were followed for about two decades to determine which participants had experienced a stroke.

The findings showed that stroke incidence followed an oral health gradient: being lowest among the participants with healthy mouths and highest among the participants with both periodontal disease and caries. After the researchers adjusted for major vascular risk factors, participants with both periodontal disease and caries had nearly double the risk of ischemic stroke compared with those with good oral health. Additionally, those with periodontal disease alone had a significantly elevated risk.

“The findings indicate that periodontitis and caries together are independently linked to higher risk of ischemic stroke. For dental professionals, this underscores the systemic relevance of comprehensive preventive care.” Prof. Sen, who was also the senior author of the second study, said in a press release.

The study, titled “Combined influence of dental caries and periodontal disease on ischemic stroke risk”, was published online in the December 2025 issue of Neurology.

08/28/2025

Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday! We will re-open on Tuesday September 2nd.

07/22/2025

Congrats Amy on completing the Hygiene Anesthesia Course!!!

07/15/2025

07/02/2025

The office will be close on July 3rd for Dr Wallace and staff to enjoy the 4th of July Holiday. The office will re-open on Monday July 7th. Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th!!

06/09/2025

The office will be closing Wednesday June 11th and re-open on Monday June 23rd so that Dr Wallace and staff may enjoy summer vacation with family and friends.
If you have a periodontal emergency during this time, please call or text us at (910) 200-8560.
If you have have any other dental concerns, please contact your general dentist.

05/22/2025

The office will closed Monday May 26th for us to enjoy the holiday with family and friends! If you have a periodontal emergency while the office is closed please call /text our emergency number (910)200-8560.

05/15/2025

The office will be closing early on May 15th for the staff to attend the NCDS Annual Meeting. The office will reopen on Monday May 19th .