Dentists are the first line of defense in the early detection of oral cancer.
Early detection of oral cancer can dramatically increase a patient’s chances of surviving this dreaded disease. Your dentist in Lansing, MI, can screen you for oral cancer so you can get an early diagnosis and the treatment you need as soon as possible. During your routine dental examinations and cleanings at Schaefer Dental Group, our dental professionals can help protect your overall health and ensure you live healthier by providing prompt and accurate oral cancer screenings.
What Is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer or mouth cancer is the broader term for cancer that affects the inside of the mouth.
Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, mouth, tongue, cheeks, throat, sinuses, and hard palate. Oral cancer is one of the more easily treatable cancers, but only when it is diagnosed in its earliest stages.
What Parts Of The Body Constitute The Oral Cavity?
An oral cavity includes:
- The lips.
- The gums.
- The lining of the inside of the cheeks.
- The first two-thirds of the tongue.
- The floor of the mouth (the part under the tongue).
- The first part of the roof of the mouth.
- The area right behind the wisdom teeth.
Risk factors that may cause the development of oral cancer include the use of snuff, dip, or/and chewing tobacco products, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, lifestyle choices, family history of cancer, age, excessive exposure to the sun, and poor diet. Men are twice as likely as women to get oral cancer.
Symptoms Of Oral Cancer
Common symptoms of oral cancer include:
- A persistent sore throat that will not go away or frequently returns.
- A feeling that something is caught at the back of the throat.
- An unexplained bleeding in the mouth.
- A lasting bleeding sore on the face, neck, or mouth that doesn’t heal or go away within two weeks.
- An unexplained loss of feeling, pain, or numbness in the face, neck, or mouth.
- Consistent ear pain.
- An emergence of lumps, bumps, or rough spots on the gums, lips, or other mouth parts.
- Red, white, or speckled red and white patches on or in the mouth.
- An increased difficulty in chewing, speaking or swallowing.
- Chronic bad breath.
- Changes in the way your teeth or dentures fit together.
- Unintentional weight loss.
What Happens During An Oral Cancer Screening?
Before commencing the oral cancer screening, the patient must remove all oral appliances, such as dentures and retainers. This will help expose every possible area in the mouth that may be susceptible to oral cancer.
An oral cancer screening in Lansing, MI can consist of two parts – a discovery and a diagnosis.
Discovery is the result of a thorough visual and manual examination. It includes a systematic visual examination of all the soft tissues of the mouth, including the manual extension of the tongue to examine its base, a bimanual palpation of the floor of the mouth, and a digital examination of the borders of the tongue, and the lymph nodes surrounding the oral cavity and the neck.
A dentist will also thoroughly examine the face, neck, lips, and inside of the nose.
The dentist will closely look for asymmetries. Any swelling, bumps, lumps, white patches, sores, rough patches and other abnormalities will be minutely examined.
While new diagnostic aids, including lights, dyes, VELscope®, and other techniques, make the discovery process more effective, it is still possible to do a comprehensive examination through a proper visual and tactile process without devices.
Once suspect tissues have been detected, the only way a definitive diagnosis of oral cancer may be made is through biopsy.
A sample of the cells from the tissues will be taken and sent to the lab for a biopsy.
Timely Oral Cancer Screenings Can Save Lives In Lansing, MI
Dr. Schaefer and the compassionate dental team at Schaefer Dental Group believe that it is the primary responsibility of the dental community to educate the general public regarding the risk factors which lead to oral cancer.
The dental community must assume a leadership role if oral cancer’s menace is to be tackled effectively and successfully.
Early detection is crucial in saving lives. Suppose you have a family history of oral cancer or indulge in the use of tobacco or excessive consumption of alcohol. In that case, you may be at a higher risk of developing oral cancer. We recommend requesting oral cancer screenings every three to four months.
If you notice any new growth in the mouth or the appearance of wounds that do not heal within two weeks, you should get your oral cavity evaluated by a dentist to ensure these growth or wounds are benign. We recommend patients contact our dental office immediately to schedule a consultation if they notice these issues or experience any other type of dental pain.
