Oral Cancer Screening: Importance and Process at Our Dental Clinic
At our dental clinic, we understand the significance of maintaining optimal oral health. While we work closely with you to establish and preserve excellent oral hygiene, it’s important to acknowledge that oral health issues can still arise. Detecting these issues early on allows for timely resolution, preventing them from worsening and leading to additional complications.
When it comes to oral cancer, early detection plays a crucial role in effective management. That’s why, during your regular examination and cleaning appointments, our dentists will perform an oral cancer screening every six months. This proactive approach enables us to identify any signs of oral cancer or precancerous conditions, facilitating prompt treatment and potential cure.
Risk Factors: Identifying Higher Susceptibility
While oral cancer screenings are recommended for all patients, certain individuals have a higher risk of developing oral cancer. If you fall into any of the following categories, our dentists will strongly emphasize the importance of undergoing an oral cancer screening:
- Tobacco use: This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other forms of tobacco consumption.
- Heavy alcohol use: Regular consumption of hard liquor significantly increases the risk of oral cancer.
- History of oral cancer: If you have previously experienced oral cancer, your likelihood of recurrence is higher.
- Significant sun exposure: Prolonged and frequent exposure to the sun, especially on the lips, raises the risk of oral cancer.
To minimize your chances of developing oral cancer, our dentists will encourage you to eliminate harmful habits and establish oral hygiene practices that promote your well-being.
What to Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening
During an oral cancer screening, our dentist will conduct a comprehensive visual examination of various areas, including your face, neck, lips, nasal passages, and oral cavity. They will assess your gums, inner cheeks, roof of the mouth, tonsils, throat, and the area beneath your tongue using a light and mirror. The objective is to identify any asymmetries, swellings, bumps, ulcerations, patches of color, sores, or other abnormalities that may indicate potential oral health issues.
Additionally, our dentist will gently feel your head, cheeks, jaw, chin, and the tissues inside your mouth to detect any lumps, masses, or other irregularities. If you have removable dental hardware, such as partial or complete dentures, you may be asked to remove them for a thorough examination. In some cases, if deemed necessary, our dentist may rinse your mouth with a special blue dye that highlights any abnormal cells present.
Importance of Oral Cancer Screenings and Further Evaluation
It’s important to note that oral cancer screenings alone cannot provide a definitive diagnosis. However, they serve as an indicator for the need for further testing. For instance, if you have mouth sores, a visual examination may not determine their cancerous nature as many sores are benign. In such cases, our dentist may recommend additional tests to ensure accurate diagnosis.
If our dentist identifies signs of cancerous or precancerous conditions during the screening, they will suggest a follow-up visit a few weeks later. This allows for a re-examination of your oral cavity to assess if the conditions have persisted or changed. Based on their findings, our dentist may advise a biopsy or refer you to an oral cancer specialist for further diagnosis and treatment.
Oral cancer screenings are primarily precautionary measures and should not cause unnecessary worry or concern. If you have any questions or concerns regarding oral cancer screenings, please don’t hesitate to contact our clinic Todays Dental.
