Oral Cancer Screening A cancer screening is an inspection looking for conditions and early signs of cancer before a person has any symptoms. The mouth's soft tissues will show precancerous conditions that could potentially lead to oral cancer. Abnormalities that are found early can help prevent cancer from developing too far. When a person starts to show symptoms, cancer may have begun its spread. An oral cancer screening can be performed by dentists, nurses, or doctors, but most commonly dentists. Here at Division Smiles Family Dental our team is trained in effectively screening our patients.It is important to remember that cancer is largely unpredictable. Proactive screenings are the most effective method of preventing cancer so if your dentist suggests that you get an oral screening, it doesn't necessarily mean that you do have cancer. Scientists are still researching cancers to better understand their causes and conditions and why people get them. These studies can help doctors better recommend who should be screened for cancer, what type of treatment they should get, and how frequent their tests should be. People should be screened for oral and oropharyngeal cancers annually starting around the age of 18. If a person uses tobacco products, screenings should commence at the age they begin to use. Screenings are quick, painless, and non-invasive. Information on Oral CancerAccording to the Oral Cancer Foundation, close to 60,000 Americans will have oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. Of those individuals, approximately 57% will still be alive in five years; a number that has only slightly improved in decades. The increase is credited to an increase in HPV caused cancers that are more vulnerable to existing modes of treatment; oral cancer rates are still high. Historically, the oral cancer death rate is not affected by the cancer type being particularly difficult to detect or treat. Oral cancer is routinely discovered late in its development, at this stage successful treatment becomes increasingly difficult. Another obstacle in the fight against oral cancer is the emergence of the virus HPV. The virus has significantly increased the rate of oral cancer. It typically emerges in the posterior region of the mouth, the base of the tongue, the tonsils, and the oropharynx. The lack of visibility in these areas makes oral lesions and discolorations harder to detect with routine screenings. Oral Cancer Detection and PreventionOral cancer is dangerous because it may not be noticed by the patient in its early stages. It can thrive without producing pain or recognizable symptoms and has a high risk of producing second primary tumors. With regular visits to Division Smiles Family Dental, our dentists can see or feel pre-cancer tissue changes, or actual cancer while it is still very small. It may appear as a red or white spot in your mouth, or a small hard ulcer that looks like a canker sore. There are many benign changes in the mouth's tissues, such as a bite on the side of your cheek, or a canker sore. Any area of your mouth that does not heal within 14 days should be looked at by a professional. Other symptoms include: a painless mass or lump felt on the inside of the mouth, pain or difficulty in swallowing, chewing, or speaking, and hoarseness that lasts for a long time. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please call (971) 978-0293. |
Division Smiles Family DentalDr. David Kim Dr. Michael Kim Dr. Jed Volvovic |
