Oral Cancer Screening Prevention of serious disease is one of the benefits of oral cancer screening at Avery Dental Center. Early detection of cancers in the mouth can prevent them from spreading and provide the best prognosis, including the floor or the mouth, roof of the mouth, inside the cheek, lips, gums, and tongue.What Does Oral Cancer Screening Entail?Oral cancers can affect the floor or the mouth, roof of the mouth, inside cheek, lips, gums, and tongue. The dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth during an oral cancer screening. They check for any unusual patches of discoloration, lesions, or sores on the inside and outside of the mouth that are indicative signs of a potentially dangerous disease. Signs and SymptomsOral cancer is a scary diagnosis, but it's important to remember that the prevalence of oral cancers in adults is low. They are rare in people who do not smoke tobacco products regularly or drink alcohol excessively. However, they still exist as risks if we consume too much sugar/ or salt daily and our immune system is weakened over the years due to chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Some signs for concern include white spots on the inside mouth, a sore mouth or lumps, and growths that don't heal correctly. Risk FactorsLife is full of risks that can affect your health. Some lifestyle factors increase the risk for oral cancer, such as smoking cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco; drinking too much alcohol regularly or when combined with tobacco use; being male (men are more at risk than women); having poor nutrition and chronic sun damage. Other factors, including genetics, may also play a part, and you may be more at risk if a close member of your family has had oral cancer. How Is Cancer Diagnosed?If you have any suspicious areas that are detected during cancer screening, it does not mean they are cancer. There could be other reasons for the changes in your mouth which aren't related to serious disease. The dentist may recommend a follow-up visit in a few weeks to see if the suspicious area has changed and, depending on its course of action, might perform another screening. The next step will be to take an actual biopsy by collecting cells from the suspicious area via different methods like brushing over the area with a small brush (brush biopsy). A soft tissue biopsy is also possible but requires a small surgical procedure to take a sample of the tissue. This can be performed in our surgery. Afterward, this material is sent to a laboratory for further analysis. Other diagnostic tests may be performed, such as a CT scan or an x-ray, depending on whether the suspicious area is located. Oral cancer screening is an opportunity to take a proactive approach and put your mind at ease. By following the guidance of our professionals, you can help minimize risk factors that lead to oral cancers by seeking smoking cessation services or other support programs that are applicable. To schedule an appointment for cancer screening at Avery Dental Center get in touch with us by calling (380) 257-1684. |
