Our team provides oral cancer screenings and biopsies, as well as treatment. We want to help address the issue in the early stages if possible, increasing your chances of a recovery. In today’s blog, your Cerritos, CA, dentist talks about our approach to oral pathology, assessing your risk and choosing treatments for oral cancer.
The Causes and Warning Signs
Oral cancer could be caused by factors like excessive UV light exposure, excess alcohol consumption, and the use of tobacco products. That said, you could also develop the disease without these risk factors, which is why we offer a screening for adults. The earlier the disease is caught, the more likely a full recovery will be for the patient. You should definitely contact our team when you experience possible warning signs, such as red and white splotches in your mouth, or scores and lesions that don’t heal after two weeks. Changes to your voice, persistent sore throat or hoarseness, or sudden weight loss could also be factors.
Screenings and Biopsies
Our team can conduct a detailed scan of your smile using advanced technology, so we can identify the presence of precancerous or cancerous tissues. If we find potential areas, then we will complete a biopsy to analyze the tissues further. We will gently gather a small sample of the area and then send the tissue sample to a lab where a pathologist or a technician will look at and determine whether this is cancer, or if the tissues are in a precancerous stage. With this information, treatment options can be discussed.
Treatment Options
There may be treatments to help prevent oral cancer if we find the disease in a precancerous stage, or to treat the issue directly if you have oral cancer. There will be a multidisciplinary approach to utilize several options to stop or remove the cancer. We could discuss chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or reconstructive procedures.
Preventive Actions
To help lower your risk, be sure you wear sunscreen protection when outdoors. Remember, even during colder months exposure to the sun can be harmful. Don’t drink alcohol to excess, and avoid the use of tobacco products completely. These actions, along with routine visits to your general dentist for exams and cleanings, can help safeguard your smile. You can also contact our team to talk about oral cancer screenings.
If you have any questions about how our team will screen for the disease or about our approach to biopsies and treatments, then contact our office to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you!
TALK TO OUR TEAM ABOUT ORAL PATHOLOGY
To schedule a consultation and undergo a screening and/or biopsy, then make an appointment with Cerritos Dental Surgery in California call 562-584-4082 today.
