Oral Cancer Screening

When your dentist is performing your oral exam during your routine check up he is looking for much more than just cavities. Most patients don’t realize that oral exams also include oral cancer screening. This entails looking for any lesions or changes in your mouth that could indicate cancer or even cell changes that indicate that you are at a higher risk of developing an oral cancer in the future.
 
Oral cancer refers to cancer found in the mouth, roof of the mouth, throat, tongue and gums. The number of oral cancer cases is on the rise which is attributed to various factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of awareness and an increase in the number of cases of HPV which is a sexually transmitted disease which can cause precancerous changes in the mouth. People with low incomes are also at an increased risk of oral cancer because they are less likely to see the dentist and get the necessary regular screening in order to detect changes early on.
 
The dentist performs a visual exam of your mouth when ever you come in for a check up. There are also new tools being used to assist in better oral cancer screening such as Velscope which is a handheld device that uses fluorescent light to detect abnormalities that may not be seen during a regular visual oral exam. By using a tool like this along with the traditional visual screening during an oral exam your dentist has a much better chance of detecting cancer early on or while it is still in the precancerous stages. When it comes to all cancers, including oral cancer, early detection offers you the best chance at a cure and survival. This is why regular oral cancer screening is crucial.
 
Many people are guilty of putting off their visits to the dentist until something is wrong. Whether because of anxieties related to dental work, financial issues, embarrassment or just putting everything else first, we often forgo our dental check ups and assume that if we’re not having tooth pain then everything must be fine. Unfortunately this kind of thinking can prove to be a matter of life and death in this day and age. Most people don’t know what to look for as far as oral cancer is concerned. And even if you perform a self exam when it comes to your mouth there is no way that you can get a view of the same areas that your dentist can. Another scary fact that you should know is that when it comes to oral cancer symptoms, once you have symptoms it is usually a sign that the cancer is already in its advanced stages and the chances of a cure are minimal at best.
 
Having regular dental check ups isn’t only important for your dental health and keeping your smile beautiful but also your overall health as well. Oral cancer screening is an important part of your dental check ups and not something that you can afford to miss.