Every hour, one person in the United States dies from oral cancer. When oral cancer is detected early and treated, the cure rate is over 80%. The high mortality rate is due to the fact that a lot of diagnoses come too late. It is, unfortunately, quite rare for patients to be correctly screened by their dentist. During every exam we conduct at our office we perform oral cancer screening. To detect problems at the earliest stage we use cutting edge technology. This simple five minute check could save your health or possibly even your life.
Symptoms include
- Unexplained bleeding
- Development of white, red or speckled patches in the mouth
- Numbness, loss of feeling, or pain in sections of the mouth
- Swelling, thickening, lumps, bumps, rough patches and growths
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Persistent sore throat
- Ear pain
Oral cancer typically affects
- Front 2/3 of the tongue
- Minor salivary glands
- Lining of the cheeks and lips
- Small area behind the wisdom teeth
- Floor of mouth under the tongue
- Gums
- Roof of the mouth
We require your assistance to detect things before it is too late. The best way to do this is to make sure you come in for an exam twice a year. Particularly in the case of oral cancer, prevention is the best option. Be sure to come in for every 6-month checkup for preventive care. Especially in the case of oral cancer, prevention is your best option.
