141 North State Road #2; Briarcliff Manor, NY (914) 762-1885
Dr. Victor Sternberg: Westchester Center for Periodontal and Implant Excellence
  • Home
  • Treatment
    • Oral Pathology
    • Dental Diagnostician
    • Diagnostic Equipment
    • Cosmetic Procedures
    • Perioscopy
    • Surgical Periodontal Treatment
    • Dental Implants
    • Tooth Grinding Appliances
  • Prevention
  • Reviews
  • Staff
  • Podcast
  • Professional
  • News & Views
  • Contact

Doctor To Patient

We strive to keep our patients and friends up to date with 
the most recent news regarding dentistry, including special news and announcements. You are encouraged to review our journal below.  You never know what you will learn!

We encourage you to share this page with a friend!

Yes! Send Me Doctor To Patient Updates!

THE STORY OF MR. S

5/30/2013

0 Comments

 
The Importance of Multiple Opinions for Serious Medical Conditions

This is going to be an important medical experience that may save your life. It is the story of my patient, Mr. S.

When we or a loved one receives a diagnosis of a serious, life-altering or life-threatening condition, what we do next can be the most important decision we make.

Mr. S., my patient of several years, had been referred back to my practice to remove a tooth that was infected which the dentist had deemed as nontreatable. The tooth was to be removed and implants to be placed at a later time as had been done on the other side of his mouth two years prior.

The patient, an otherwise healthy individual, had related that he had been under the care of his Ear, Nose & Throat doctor for a year for a chronic sinus infection. Otherwise, he had no other symptoms.

Upon the removing the infected tooth, I noted that the tissue around it did not have a normal appearance or consistency. After removing the tooth, I submitted this tissue to a laboratory for biopsy which we often do in order to obtain an analysis. At that time, I was suspicious that the infection presented by the patient was other than of dental origin. A call three days later confirmed my fear; the diagnosis was a squamous cell carcinoma which in laymen’s terms means a malignant growth of the upper jaw communicating with the sinus cavity which is the space above the teeth.

Before the patient returned to my office for me to present this news and realizing the patient was unprepared for such a diagnosis and expecting only to hear about his dental condition, I made arrangements with a major medical institution in New York City that specialized in cancer care to see the patient the next day. I forwarded all the materials that I had received from the laboratory so they would be prepared to examine the patient and present him with some treatment options.

When I saw the patient late the next day, I presented the patient with the diagnosis and also told him that we had already arranged for an appointment for the next day so he could be seen at the medical center in Manhattan.

The patient was seen the next day at the medical center and after being examined by the head and neck cancer staff, was advised that he would undergo a surgical procedure to remove the remaining portion of the tumor and a dental prosthesis would then be fabricated for him to replace that part of the tissue that was removed and he could expect an uneventful recovery. They did however take a CT scan of his head at the time of his visit.

Three days later, the patient received a call from the medical center informing him that the tumor was much more extensive than they anticipated from just the oral examination and that he would undergo a very radical procedure that would result in much of his oral cavity being removed, involve the removal of much of his oral tissue, his upper jaw and would require him to be on a feeding tube for the rest of his life.

The patient was devastated by this news since he had anticipated only a procedure to remove the localized tumor. When the patient called me with the information that he had received, I quickly contacted another major cancer center in New York and he was promptly seen within a few days. The second major medical center, also with an excellent reputation, saw an entirely different outcome for this patient. They presented him with palliative radiation and felt that any surgical procedure would severely disable him and not prolong his life. Their humane approach however was interpreted correctly by the patient as a noncure that could ultimately lead to his death.

Two medical centers; two totally different approaches. The patient at that point having received two devastating diagnoses, the second of which he saw as "throwing in the towel", sought a third consultation at a third major medical center with a more respected head and neck surgeon. Here, he was received with a completely different approach. They indicated they could do radiation, unlimited chemotherapy and then remove the tumor with a team of surgeons

that would render him intact. Whatever deficit occurred in his mouth from the removal of the tumor, they could repair with a skin graft and he would speak, eat and function normally. And they felt this outlook was favorable.

Needless to say, the patient embraced the third approach. He underwent treatment for about a year with multiple procedures and treatment performed; some of which with at times a rocky and difficult road.

However, I can report to you now, five years later, the patient is completely free of cancer and in every way intact and functioning almost as if he never had the original diagnosis. He’s grateful that he’s here and that he can continue to enjoy his family, his career and a second opportunity to hopefully live out a long, fruitful life.

There are many take-aways from this story. All three of the institutions he saw have excellent reputations and doctors. It is clear that a serious diagnosis can have different approaches based upon the institution’s and practitioner’s training and their protocols. This does not denigrate or in any way make any of the institutions or the individuals involved less capable then they are. However, it does indicate that the art and science of medicine are not identical and there are many situations for which there are alternative approaches that can vastly different outcomes. Hopefully, you will never need to deal with issues such as those encountered by Patient S but if you do, try to keep this in the back of your mind as a helpful story that may make a big difference for yourself and those you love.

Sincerely,

Dr. Victor Sternberg
mrs.pdf
File Size: 67 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

0 Comments
    Staff

    From the desk of...
    Dr. Victor Sternberg

    This is a series of regular postings focusing on preventing disease and maintaining good health.  I will share information available through professional journals as well as my own personal experiences and those of my patients.

    When you are in our office our time communicating to you is focused on your treatment and visit. We have much to share with our patients that we feel is valuable for continued health and wellness.


    I hope you find this page informative and helpful. We look forward to having additional dialogue with you electronically and in person!  All the best!

    Archives

    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    August 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

    Categories

    All
    1460AM
    Academy Of Osseointegration
    Aging
    AM 1230 WFAS
    American Academy Of Periodontology
    American Health Front
    Anna Pattison
    Anni Perkowski
    Appointment
    Aspirin
    Bill Of Rights
    Bite
    Bob Marrone
    Book Review
    Bridge
    Cancer
    CBS
    Certificate In Dental Implant Maintenance
    Charity
    Children
    Chlorhexadine
    Chronic Gingivitis
    Communism
    ConEd
    Congress
    Constitutional Convention
    Continued Education
    Conventional Dentures
    Coronary Artery Disease
    Coronary Heart Disease.
    Correct Bite
    Danish
    Dear Dr. Sternberg (Poem)
    Deep Scaling
    Denmark
    Dental Care
    Dental Decay
    Dental Examination
    Dental Health News
    Dental Hygienist
    Dental Practitioner
    Dental Probe
    Dental X-Rays
    Denture
    Deplaque
    Diet
    Distinguished Doctor's
    DIY Dental Tips
    Documentary
    Dogs
    Donated Dental
    Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution
    Dr. Steven Gundry
    Drug Crisis
    Drugs
    Dr. Victor Sternberg
    Edentulous
    Education
    Electronic Communication
    Email
    Endoscope
    Esther Freidrich
    Eva Brenish
    Excerise
    Exercise
    Facial Pain
    Fake News
    First Amendment
    Florida School Shooting
    Flossing
    Fluoride
    Fluoride Trays
    Forks Over Knives
    Free Press
    GDP
    General Health
    Germany
    Gingivitis
    Give Kids A Smile
    Grinding
    Gum Disease
    Gum Health
    Gumline
    Gun Control
    Guns
    Guyana
    Happy New Year
    HD Video
    Healthcare
    Health Care Costs
    Healthy Aging
    Healthy Mouth
    Heart Disease
    Henny Youngman
    HPV
    Human Papilloma Virus
    Humor
    Hygienists
    Hypnosisa
    Implant
    Implantology
    Insurance
    ITI
    Johanna (Liz) Prieto
    Journal Of Clinical Periodontics
    Journal Of Periodontology
    Laura Fassecesia
    Listerine
    Long Life
    Mayo Clinic
    M.D.
    Middle-Age Fitness
    Mouth Cleansing
    Mouth Rinse
    Mouthwash
    Movie Review
    Natural Teeth
    Nazi
    New Year's Resolution
    New York State Local Anesthesia License
    New York State Nitrous Oxide License
    New York Times
    Nightguards
    Nikki Stefanou
    NJ Special Olympics
    Nonagenarians
    Nutrition
    Obamacare
    Octogenarians
    Office Assistant
    Opiod
    Oral Cancer
    Oral Health
    Overdose
    Oxycontin
    Panky Institute For Advance Dental Education And Training
    Partial Dentures
    Patients
    Patient Satisfaction
    Percocet
    Percodan
    Peridontitis
    Periodex
    Periodontal Disease
    Periodontal Health
    Periodontal Recording
    Periodontal Screening
    Periogard
    Perioscope
    Perioscopy
    Physical Exam
    Plant Based Diet
    Plaque
    Pockets
    Podcast
    Politics And Your Health
    Prescription Opioids
    President Trump
    Preventive Medicine
    PSR
    Radiation
    Radio
    Radius Toothbrush
    Referrals
    Removing Plaque
    Robert Pargament
    Rockland County Department Of Health
    Romania
    Saliva
    SAT
    Schools
    Second Amendment
    Sexual Behavior
    Smoking
    Solar Energy
    Sonicare
    Sore Jaw
    Staff
    Staff Focus
    Stress
    Survey
    Talk Radio
    Tammy Ryan
    Tarter Removal
    Teaching
    Teenagers
    Teeth
    Television
    Testimonials
    The Constitution
    Toothbrush
    Toothbrushing
    Tooth Brushing
    Tooth Infection
    Tooth Replacement
    Treatment Plan
    Trump
    TV Appearance
    University Of Bridgeport
    University Of Colorado Medical School
    University Of Medicine And Dentistry Of New Jersey
    Utica School Of Commerce
    Valentine's Day
    Verengo Solar
    Vermont
    Video
    Views
    WaterPik
    Water Pik
    Westchester
    Westchester Center
    Westchester County
    WFAS
    Wheat Belly
    Whole Foods
    William Davis
    William O'Shaughnessy
    WVOX
    WVOX 1460AM
    X-ray
    Yoga

    RSS Feed


HOME / TREATMENTS / REVIEWS / STAFF / PODCAST / PROFESSIONAL / NEWS & VIEWS / CONTACT
 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Contact
Dr. Victor Sternberg:
Westchester Center for Periodontal & Implant Excellence
141 North State Road #2
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
TEL: (914) 762-1885
FAX: (914) 762-1880

Office Hours
Monday–Thursday 8AM–6PM
Friday by special request only
One Saturday per Month 8AM–2PM
Copyright © 2011-2018 Westchester Center for Periodontal & Implant Excellence. All rights reserved.