Oral Cancer Screening
Oral Cancer Screening Gardena, CA
It’s believed that oral cancer kills one person in the United States every hour of every day. Oral cancer can be deadly because typically it is not discovered until it has progressed to an advanced stage.
Oral cancer exams have demonstrated that early detection can raise the survival rate of oral cancer to 80% or higher. The goal is to spot minute alterations in the tissues lining the mouth, lips, and tongue that could indicate an arising issue. A quick and painless oral cancer examination can be done by our dentists here.
What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?
Be aware of these common symptoms of oral cancer:
- Lumps/bumps/rough spots inside the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing, chewing or speaking
- Numbness in face, neck or mouth
- Persistent sore throat or ear pain
- Feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
- Bleeding in the mouth
- Speckled red and white patches in the mouth
- Dentures no longer fit properly
What Happens During An Oral Cancer Screening?
A thorough screening for oral cancer is part of your routine dental checkup. The screening includes a visual assessment of your lips, tongue, and the inside of your mouth, including a check for red or white patches or unusual sores. We’ll also check for any lumps or swelling, and your tongue may be gently pulled aside for an even better view. A special light or dye may be used to help check any suspect areas. If anything appears to be out of the ordinary, a biopsy can be easily performed.
Early diagnosis, aided by thorough screenings at your regular dental checkups, is one of the best defenses against oral cancer and our doctors are here to help.