Oral cancer screenings are an important aspect of your oral and overall health. Cases of the disease are on the rise in our country — and oral cancer is affecting more young and otherwise healthy patients than you might think. Young men are at an especially high risk.
Regular screenings can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment of oral cancer, and your dentist in Ponte Vedra Beach provides them from the comfort of Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry. Keep reading to learn how this simple exam works, and just what we’re looking for.
What Is an Oral Cancer Screening?
An oral cancer screening is a visual and tactile examination of the hard and soft tissues in and around your mouth. To begin this screening, your dentist will first ask you a series of questions about your oral and overall health. Have you noticed anything unusual lately, like a change in the tone of voice, symmetry of your face, or anything else of note? We need this information to get a complete picture of your health.
Next, the screening begins. Your dentist will take a look at your face as a whole, then ask you to open your mouth for a closer look. Dr. Townsend or Dr. Harth will then look at your oral structures and perform a tactile check for irregularities that could indicate trouble. In all, the process takes just a few minutes and can be performed in a separate appointment or at the end of a checkup and cleaning.
What Is Your Dentist Looking for?
During this complete oral cancer screening, your dentist is on the lookout for the warning signs of oral cancer. These include…
- Lesions that persist for longer than two weeks
- Lumps and bumps
- Discolored areas (red or white)
- Rough patches in the oral tissues
- Asymmetries in the face
- Change in the tone of voice
If anything suspicious is detected during the oral cancer screening, we will provide advice to help you get the appropriate follow-up treatment. Sometimes, we may just advise you to come back in a couple of weeks to see if the area has changed or improved on its own. For a lesion, however, we may recommend biopsy right away. Whatever the recommended course of action, you can feel confident when you partner with our team of experts!
Prevention Is Key
When it comes to oral cancer, prevention and early detection are crucial for protecting you from oral cancer. Now that you know about the importance of oral cancer screenings, won’t you schedule an appointment with your dentist? Doing so could save your life — literally.
Meet the Practice
At Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry, our dentists provide just that — comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages and stages of life. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment for an oral cancer screening, you are invited to contact the office at 904-285-7711.