Oral Cancer Screening

What is Oral Cancer?

As the name suggests, oral cancer is cancer that develops in the mouth. It usually involves the lips or the tongue but may also occur on the cheek lining, floor of the mouth, gums, or roof of the mouth. Oral cancers tend to spread quickly which is why early detection is so critical to its treatment. We recommend biannual dental visits to scan for oral cancer and more frequent visits for tobacco users or those who consume heavy amounts of alcohol.

Oral Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of oral cancer may vary between individuals and may include the following:

• A sore, lump or ulcer in the mouth
• Chewing problems
• Mouth sores
• Pain when swallowing
• Speech difficulties
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Tongue problems
• Weight loss

Oral Cancer Diagnosis

Our dental office can discover oral cancer in its early stages with our Oral ID screenings, along with your routine cleaning and dental examination. If you have a sore in your mouth or lip or a lump in the neck that does not go away after a month you should call us for an appointment immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly increase your chances of survival. We will incorporate our cutting edge fluorescent technology to screen your mouth. Fluorescent technology is a light-based technology – shining a fluorescent light in your mouth reveals abnormalities deep within the tissue that is not visible to the naked eye. This device allows us to detect abnormalities much earlier and potentially save lives.

Oral Cancer Facts

• Approximately half of people with oral cancer will live more than 5 years after they are diagnosed and treated.
• If the cancer is found early, before it has spread to other tissues, the cure rate is nearly 90%.
• About 1 in 4 persons with oral cancer die because of delayed diagnosis and treatment.