Getting an oral cancer exam can save your life! The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.
The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:
- Reddish or whitish patches in the mouth
- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Pain does not always occur and, curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.
Regular oral cancer screenings are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. We conduct these screenings regularly with all of our patients and have now added an exciting diagnostic tool to our tool belt! At your next appointment, you may notice the doctors using a special light that helps us better visualize oral tissues in the mouth. With this light we can spot tissue abnormalities even sooner!
IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY IN NEED OF A DENTAL HOME,
WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!