It is highly recommended to see your dentist twice a year, it is a good way to observe for any dental problems like cavities and gum problems and in some cases oral cancer, but some dentists may use routine check-ups to identify signs of cancer. Oral cancer may look like growth or a sore in the oral cavity that does not disappear and should not be ignored, and if left untreated may be a life-threatening condition.
What happens during oral cancer screening?
Your dentists will go through your medical history, questions may include relatives with cancer or oral cancer in particular and other cancer risk factors such as smoking and alcoholism, this group of people have a greater risk, Males are more prone to oral cancer than women.
The examination will be conducted inside and outside of the oral cavity, an examination of the head and neck, mouth, gums, cheeks tongue, and palate. Lumps and sores including discoloration will be noted, if any is found the dentist may recommend a biopsy.
What can cause oral cancer?
· Smoking or chewing tobacco and alcoholism
· Type 16 Human papillomavirus (HPV)
· Oral cancers may develop in people who are not in the high-risk group
What should you watch out for?
· Lumps, rough spots
· Cuts on the lips and gums
· Unusual bleeding in the mouth
· Numbness pain and tenderness on the face and neck
· Difficulty swallowing and speaking
· Ear pain
· Unexplained weight loss
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, see your dentist as soon as possible, and do not wait for it to become worse. Painful or not it does not always indicate a problem. Having frequent dental visits may help identify the problem earlier and your dentist is in the best position to detect oral cancers and their early symptoms.
Types of cancer screening
- Conventional
Visual examination of the mouth soft tissues, tongue, palpating the cheeks, lips and gums, neck region especially the lymph nodes.
- Diagnostic aid
This is usually used for signs that are not visible, saliva test and fluorescent devices can help detect oral cancers, fluorescent devices use light and dye to detect abnormalities.
What happens when an abnormality is detected?
If something is detected, a biopsy is the best way to confirm whether it is cancer or not. A small sample is collected and sent out to the lab for pathology tests, the result may show what kind of cancer it is. Treatment of oral cancers is usually by surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. However, since the symptoms are ignored, most oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages treatment is not always successful.
Oral cancer is not a thing to be ignored, it is a serious life-threatening disease, an examination during your dental visit can save you from oral cancer. For dentists, you may want to include oral cancer screening for your patients as part of their oral examination when they visit your office and save lives.
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