Your dental office emphasizes the importance of providing routine oral cancer screenings. our dentist is certified to detect oral cancer and discuss the available diagnostic options with you. Detecting any abnormalities in your oral health early will help you get the treatment you need to either regress or eliminate the risk of developing a more serious oral health condition.
Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer can be found on the lips, tongue, gums, or lining of the mouth or throat. Studies show it is responsible for the death of one adult American every hour. Early detection of oral cancer is crucial to its treatment success. For this reason, your dentist recommends an annual oral cancer screening. There are a number of oral cancer symptoms that start to appear early on, including:
If you show any symptoms that last for more than a week and show no signs of regressing, schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately.
Oral cancer can happen to anyone, although research suggests that it is slightly more common in men. Those who smoke or use tobacco products are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancer. Oral cancer is also more likely to occur in those with genetic predisposition, prolonged sun exposure, or those who drink alcohol excessively. However, it is important to note that anyone can get oral cancer.
Treatment success depends on the size, type, and stage of cancer. In most cases, small cancerous tumors are removed along with a small ring of healthy tissue that surrounded them, and radiation or chemotherapy is then delivered to kill off any remaining cancerous cells.
