About
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can develop in tissues of the mouth. Most often, we see it in the lips, roof of the mouth, floor of the mouth, back of the throat, or in the salivary glands. If not detected early, oral cancer can be fatal. Patients diagnosed with oral cancer may need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Prevention & Early Detection Are Key
At the Dental Arts Center, we offer oral cancer screenings as a part of every routine dental exam we perform. Therefore, our patients are thoroughly screened for oral cancer every six months during their regular cleaning appointments. During the screening, our dentists will examine all tissues in the mouth thoroughly for any precancerous markers, including sores or discoloration. They will also feel around for any abnormalities, such as lumps in the tissue. If an abnormality is discovered, they may recommend a biopsy.
When it comes to oral cancer, early detection is key to a positive outcome and even survival. When undetected in its early stages, oral cancer can quickly spread to the lungs and other organs. The prognosis gets worse each day the cancer goes undetected. If you have not been making it to your dental exams and cleanings at least one time every six months, please schedule an appointment with us for a full exam and oral cancer screening.
Schedule NowWho Is At Risk For Oral Cancer?
Every person is at some level of risk for oral cancer. However, some lifestyle choices, such as smoking and chewing tobacco, greatly increase that risk. Therefore, those who smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes have an advanced risk of mouth, throat or larynx cancer. Additionally, those who smoke and drink heavily increase their risk even further. However, research into risk factors for oral cancer has indicated that the use of chewing tobacco poses the single greatest risk, as those who use smokeless tobacco are at a 50 times greater risk of developing oral cancer than non-users. Lastly, minimizing UV exposure and wearing sunscreen is also important, as those exposed to direct sunlight for long time periods are also at a greater risk for oral cancer, which most often develops in the lips.
Appointment RequestWhat Are The Signs of Oral Cancer?
While professional oral cancer screenings every 6 months are key to prevention, you can also self-screen between appointments by looking out for a few signs & symptoms of oral cancer. These include sores on the gums, lips, roof of mouth, or floor of mouth that bleed and do not heal quickly, patches of red or white on the tongue or gums, pain or numbness in the mouth with no obvious cause, and difficulty chewing or swallowing food.
“Oral Cancer can be very scary and is certainly life-threatening. To prevent our patients from having to deal with this awful disease that could claim their life, we thoroughly screen for oral cancer every 6 months, at each routine dental exam.”
Eddie Lorents, DDS
What Should I Do If I’m Concerned I Have Oral Cancer?
If you think you may possibly have oral cancer, please do not delay in reaching out to us by phone or via our website. We are here to help you, and we will not make you wait to have an appointment with us!
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