Oral Cancer Screening Oral cancer screening is one of the most important things to have done for your oral health. It takes less than 15 minutes and is completely noninvasive. It is usually done during your twice-yearly dental cleanings and examinations. Visual InspectionWe will inspect every part of the patient's mouth, looking for any suspect tissue which might warrant additional evaluation. Any tissue which might be indicative of oral cancer can have a biopsy done to determine if there are cancerous cells associated with it or not. One of the biggest reasons to be screened is, early detection means early treatment, which means a better outcome. While we might discover discolored tissue or tissue growths there is no way to visually diagnose oral cancer. The only way to do that is to have them biopsied and evaluated for cancer. Oral cancer can not only affect the soft tissues of the mouth, but also the tongue and throat. Please contact our Brian K. Dennis, DDS office today for an oral cancer assessment. High RiskOral cancer has associated risk factors, just like many diseases do, which could increase the patient's likelihood of developing it. Some of those risk factors are obvious, while still others might be surprising. Patients who use tobacco products are at a higher risk. It does not matter if it is smokeless tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, pipes or even e-cigarettes, those can all raise the chances of getting oral cancer. Patients who drink an excess of alcohol are also in the high-risk group, as are those who have a high degree of direct sunlight exposure. When patients discover a strange-looking anomaly in their mouth, they immediately think of the worst-case scenario and assume it is cancer. While it certainly could be, the chances are that it is not cancerous. The overwhelming majority of tissue anomalies are not cancerous. However, that should not stop patients from having those evaluated professionally just to be sure. When Should I Be Screened?As mentioned, above the key to oral cancer and so many other diseases are early detection. When oral cancer is found early, treatment is considerably more effective. If oral cancer remains undetected, it could potentially infect the lymph nodes which are located directly beneath the lower jaw. If the lymphatic symptom is infected, the cancer can spread throughout the body. Screening for Oral CancerWhile oral cancer cannot be visually diagnosed, there can be outward signs of the disease. These can include discolored areas in the mouth, lumpy growths, or pain along the jaw or gums. The tissue should be biopsied to make sure it is not cancerous. The early stages of oral cancer can be pain-free, the patient completely unaware that they have it. Once it begins to cause pain or other significant symptoms, the treatment of it can become more complex. Patients who want to have an oral cancer screening should contact our Brian K. Dennis, DDS office to have one done. Give us a call at 505-292-1051 to schedule your next appointment. |
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