“Cancer” is the last word that anybody wants to hear from any kind of health professional. Even just discussing the topic can be unnerving, but if you want to prevent this dangerous condition it’s important to have frank conversations with your doctors about the matter.
This is part of why every dental checkup includes an oral cancer screening, which will give your dentist an opportunity to catch signs of the condition early. Here’s what that kind of screening is likely to entail.
The Oral Cancer Screening
If you were unaware that dentists even conducted an oral cancer screening, you probably aren’t alone. This is because the entire process takes only moments.
First, your dentist will visually examine the inside of your mouth for any irregularities. This could be anything from an abnormal white patch to a small lump. In some situations, dentists will use specialized lights or dyes in order to make finding these irregularities a little bit easier. They’ll also usually put on gloves and feel along the soft tissues in the mouth for any abnormalities that aren’t visually apparent.
Then, the dentist will ask you to look up so that they can get a better look at your neck. They’ll run their fingers along your neck to feel for swollen lymphnodes or anything else strange.
If any irregularities are found, the dentist might decide to take a biopsy and send it to a lab. However, this is usually unnecessary; for most patients, the oral cancer screening is completed in seconds.
Signs of Oral Cancer
It’s important to be proactive about checking for oral cancer, as the condition becomes harder to treat the longer that it’s allowed to progress. If you notice any of these signs of oral cancer, and if they don’t go away after a few weeks, it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist:
- Mouth Ulcers: These open sores may resemble canker sores but last longer than three weeks. Unlike canker sores, they are usually painless in the early stages.
- Red or White Patches: Changes in tongue coloration—white (leukoplakia) or red (erythroplasia)—can occur. Leukoplakia patches are rough and raised, while red patches appear velvety.
- Persistent Mouth Pain: Unexplained pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away.
- Lumps or Thickening: Feeling a lump or thickening in the cheek, lips, or mouth lining.
- Non-Healing Sores: Sores on the lip or inside the mouth that don’t heal within a reasonable time frame.
About Our Practice
At White Clay Dental Associates, we know that dentistry can be a little bit nerve-wracking for some patients. We’ve been in the business of helping people smile their brightest for over 50 years, so we have the experience necessary to not only assist you, but to keep you completely at ease. We take prevention very seriously, so even if you’re coming to us for a simple checkup, you can expect to get a level of dental care that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
If you have any questions about oral cancer, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (302) 731-4225.