The next time that you go to a dentist, you might want to ask about an oral cancer screening. That will help you see if you are at risk of getting oral cancer. These screenings can catch the earliest signs of cancer before going to an advanced stage. As long as oral cancer is caught early, it can be treated. Keep reading to find out more about this important and potentially lifesaving screening.
About 84% of cases of oral cancer can be caught by a health care provider like a dentist. The good news is that there are also many methods of looking for oral cancer. When the dentist does an oral cancer screening, many tools will be used to look for red flags. That might include mouth sores or discolorations.
The dentist will feel around the soft tissues in the mouth. The goal is to look for abnormalities or potential lumps. If any are detected, a sample of it can be sent to a lab to be tested further. This process allows for early detection.
Many risk factors might mean someone is more likely to get oral cancer. For instance, being over 40 puts someone at risk. Using tobacco or smoking also can cause an oral cancer risk. Plus, alcohol used heavily might make oral cancer more likely. The human papillomavirus (HPV) can also cause it.
Men are more likely to get it than women, and an unhealthy diet also contributes. Of course, sun exposure can also make oral cancer more likely. Someone who has been diagnosed with oral cancer likely has one or more risk factors. However, others might have none of these risk factors at all. This is why a regular oral cancer screening is so vital for overall health.
When a dentist looks for oral cancer, there are several symptoms that they are looking for. That might include odd colors, such as white or red patches in the mouth. There may be spots that do not heal or that bleed constantly. A hard spot or lump is another sign. The patient might have pain or numbness when biting down.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent oral cancer. However, having a regular oral cancer screening will help to catch it early. The dentist cannot make a diagnosis for the patient. However, samples can be sent to the lab for further testing to see if there is indeed cancer.
No matter what your age or health status, you can benefit from having an oral cancer screening. If there are positive lab results for oral cancer, then treatment can begin. That will give you good chances of surviving this health crisis. Making an appointment for your oral cancer screening today is the first step in getting treatment.
Request an appointment here: https://dentistryonpark.com or call Dentistry on Park, LLC at (781) 443-8131 for an appointment in our Stoughton office.
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