Oral Cancer Screening
Lincoln Park, NJ
 A dentist is one of the medical practitioners who spend more time examining the mouth and offering treatment for dental issues. Therefore, a dentist is able to catch oral cancer early and provide intervention measures.
A visit to our dental team at The Implant Center at Comprehensive Dental allows you to get screened for oral cancer. If you have not taken this highly life-saving action, you should do so now. Oral cancer can be treated if it is caught early when it is in its first stages.
Importance of Oral Cancer Exams
Cancer screening allows our dental team to find cancer early when it is just starting because, at this time, it is easier to treat. Early oral cancer screening helps us catch the disease before it has spread. And early detection means less treatment or less time spent while recovering. It also increases the odds of beating the disease. The earlier your cancer is identified, the better the chances of survival.
Our dentists like to see our patients every six months for dental exams and checkups. In these visits, you receive a checkup for your mouth and teeth, checking for conditions like gum disease and cavities. What is more, the dentist provides a line of defense against very serious disease, that is, oral cancer. Often, dentists are the professionals likely to detect oral cancer first and early on, through dental cleanings and exams. Oral cancer affects the cheeks, mouth floor, tongue, lips, soft and hard palate within the back and front areas of the roof of the mouth, needless to mention, the throat.
Is it Common for People to Get Oral Cancer Screening?
Many people never have oral cancer screenings because they assume they are not at risk, they do not realize how important it is, or they just ignore it altogether. And this is why the disease is not often caught at an early stage. We suggest that you pay us a visit for an oral cancer screening right away if you have not done so lately. Otherwise, you can have the screening done bi-annually.
Every time you come to our office for regular checkups, ask us to screen you for mouth cancer. We will also inquire if you have been screened for cancer recently so that we know whether to do the screening or not.
Oral Cancer Screening Procedure
It is crucial you know that oral cancer impacts different parts of the mouth. Therefore, it is needed to get a thorough oral cavity examination. Dental technology is always improving and we are able to deploy various testing techniques and equipment in order to get the right results. Oral cancer screening is a gentle process and you will be comfortable during the procedure.
Oral cancer screenings are comprehensive evaluations that form part of your dentist checkup. They typically begin before you receive your physical exam. Our dental hygienist first updates your medical history by indicating any changes they have noticed since the last visit. The hygienist also notes if there have been any new diseases or conditions that you have been diagnosed with or if you are taking new medications.
Additionally, the medical history could likely include questions regarding your risk for this form of cancer, such as excessive alcohol consumption or tobacco use. If you smoke and drink excessively, you may be at a high risk of the disease.
The hygienist or dentist may want to find out more about your current overall health and whether you have any dental concerns. When the dentist is screening you for cancer, they will examines parts of the mouth, including the inside and outside areas. An oral cancer screening exam needs to include an extraoral exam involving the head and neck, besides an intraoral exam involving the cheeks, lips, floor of the mouth, tongue, palate, and gum tissue.
When examining those areas, your dentist will look for sores, lumps, and irregular tissue changes such as discoloration. Should the dentist find suspicious tissue such as the presence of what could be cancerous lesions, then they may suggest that you get a biopsy or ask you to see an oral surgeon.
How Frequently to Get Screened
You should get your first oral cancer examination as soon as possible. After your first examination, we will tell you when you should come in for the next screening. Based on the risk factors we identify, we are able to schedule the screening visits more often if needed, during regular dental cleanings and dentist checkups, or just once a year. A high-risk patient needs to get bi-annual or annual screenings.
Why Oral Cancer Screening is Critical
If not discovered and treated early enough, oral cancer can be life-threatening. That is why our dentists take advantage of routine visits to look for signs of cancer. Assessment and evaluation of your oral cavity structure, including the soft tissues, form part of our exam procedure when patients visit our office for routine checkups.
When mouth cancer detection happens early enough, it increases your oral health and chances of surviving because you are able to commence treatment sooner than later. Also, when you know that you have been identified as a high-risk patient, you are able to take precautions that help prevent the development of oral cancer.
Schedule Today in Lincoln Park, NJ
If you cannot remember the last time you had an oral cancer screening, you should get it now. There is no better time than this because the more you wait, the riskier it may be for you. Oral cancer can develop without noticing and therefore early detection is the best thing you can seek.
Talk to us today about oral cancer screening. Visit us at The Implant Center at Comprehensive Dental or call us at (973) 578-6377 to book an appointment. |
