Oral Cancer Screening
Oral Cancer Screening
Every time you visit Lake Forest Dental Associates for a dental exam, doctors Razdolsky and Tincher check for Oral Cancer. Oral Cancer can be found in your oral cavity (lips, cheeks, teeth, gums, floor of your mouth and roof of your moth) as well as your oropharynx (middle region of throat, including the tonsils and base of the tongue). As with any cancer early detection may result in better treatment outcomes. The 5-year survival rate of those diagnosed is 60%.
Does Oral Cancer have symptoms?
It is important to be aware of any symptoms if they do not go away after two weeks notify your dentists.
- Sore or irritation
- Red or white patches
- Pain/ tenderness/ numbness
- A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or erosion
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw
- A change in the way you close your mouth
What are the Risk Factors?
- Men are 2x more likely to get oral cancer than women
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol drinkers
- HPV has been associated with throat cancer in the back of the mouth
How do you check for Oral Cancer?
Your dentist will check your oral cavity. Your oral cavity consists of your lips, cheek lining, gums, front part of your tongue, floor of your mouth and roof of your mouth. Your dentist will also look at your through and the soft palate of your mouth including your tonsils. Your jaw and neck will also be examined for any lumps or abnormalities.
What happens if my Dentist finds something?
First and foremost, stay calm. Your dentist will not be able to tell right away if what he or she is looking at is cancer. So, they will refer you for testing. Your dentist may also re-examine you in a week or two later to see if the questionable spots resolved on their own prior to sending for more testing.