When was the last time you visited a dental office to have an oral cancer screening? We have experience in the diagnosis and treatment of common oral pathologies, and we want to conduct a screening and if needed, a biopsy too. In today’s blog, your Cerritos, CA, oral surgeon talks about our approach to diagnosis and starting care for oral cancer.
When You Need a Screening
We recommend a screening for adults at least once a year. Oral cancer has a particularly high mortality rate, with half of those diagnosed succumbing to the disease within only five years. The main reason is the fact that the disease is rarely caught in the early stages. But with a screening every year, you increase the chances of an early diagnosis and a full recovery. In between your visits, let us know if you notice sores or lesions that don’t heal after two weeks, areas with red and white splotches, rough patches, or changes in your voice or sudden weight loss. Other possible symptoms include persistent hoarseness or coughs that don’t go away after two weeks.
Biopsies and Treatments
Our team will carefully examine your smile with the latest advances in digital imaging technology, so we can identify areas of cancerous or precancerous tissues. If we discover these areas, then we may take a small tissue sample known as a biopsy, that can be further analyzed. A physician or technician in a lab setting will examine the tissues and find out if you have cancer in your cells. From there, we can discuss treatment options. The treatments recommended will depend on the state of the disease, and could include chemotherapy or radiation therapy. We can also offer reconstructive procedures too.
Preventives Actions
Our team will monitor the area in follow-up visits, and you can take actions to limit your risk for cancer. We recommend avoiding any and all tobacco products, and limiting how much alcohol you consume. Be sure you wear sunblock and limit UV light exposure too. These simple actions can help protect you from cancer. But even if you don’t have risk factors like excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, or exposure to UV light exposure, you could still develop oral cancer, so be sure you attend our screenings every year!
If you have any questions about the screening process, or if you would like to schedule a visit to have an area of concern examined, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy optimal oral health!
TALK TO OUR TEAM ABOUT ORAL PATHOLOGY
To schedule a consultation for an oral cancer screening or to talk about oral pathology with Cerritos Dental Surgery in California call 562-584-4082 today.
