Fort Smith Dental Practice Advocates for Oral Health in Arkansas Community

Fort Smith, AR, April 4, 2016 (Newswire.com) - River Valley Smile Center, a comprehensive dental practice in Fort Smith, Ark., supports the awareness and promotion of Oral Cancer Awareness Month this April.

Oral and pharyngeal cancer collectively kills nearly one person every hour of every day of the year, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS). Of the people newly diagnosed with these cancers, only about 60 percent will live longer than five years.

Ways to prevent oral cancers include: not using/quitting tobacco products, moderating (or eliminating) alcohol consumption, avoiding excessive sun exposure, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and attending regular dental check-ups, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Charles Liggett, of River Valley Smile Center, has been community-oriented throughout his professional career: conducting 16 dental mission trips, founding the Weekend Dental Clinic and Free Extraction Day, organizing discussions for the local dental community to better recognize and prevent child abuse/neglect and more.

The average age of most people diagnosed with these cancers is 62, but they can occur in young people, according to the ACS. They are rare in children, but a little more than one-quarter occur in patients younger than 55. These cancers are more than twice as common in men as in women, according to the ACS.

About 48,330 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in 2016, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates. An estimated 9,570 people will die of these cancers.

River Valley Smile Center is a comprehensive dental practice which offers an array of  services including: cosmetic and restorative dentistry, whitening, veneers, clear braces, same day crowns, root canals, oral surgery, gum treatment, children’s dentistry, and implants.

The River Valley Smile Center team urges residents to be aware of the risks, and prevention methods, of oral cancer this spring, and throughout the year.

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River Valley Smile Center is a comprehensive dental practice located in Fort Smith, Ark. At River Valley Smile Center, patients receive a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to help them reach their optimal oral health. What sets River Valley Smile Center apart from other dental practices is the unique way in which the doctors collaborate to ensure patients get the very best care for each aspect of their treatment. The services River Valley Smile Center offer range from cosmetic and restorative dentistry, whitening, veneers, clear braces, same day crowns, root canals, oral surgery, gum treatment, children’s dentistry to implants. River Valley Smile Center is accepting new patients.

To learn more about River Valley Smile Center please visit: http://www.rivervalleysmiles.com/