Oral cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 50,000 people per year in the U.S. This type of cancer can spread silently, and many people do not have any symptoms until it has progressed to later stages that are difficult to treat. If detected early, oral cancer has a much higher success rate for treatment. At Neville Dental Studio, we provide oral cancer screening as part of our preventive oral care services at our dental centers in Scottsville, Horse Cave and Bowling Green, KY.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
While many people do not have symptoms of oral or mouth cancer, there are some signs that can indicate a problem. It is important to be aware of changes in your mouth or throat that could be symptoms of cancer. Some of the signs that should be examined by a dentist include:
- Oral sores that do not heal within two weeks
- Bumps or lumps in the mouth or throat
- Red or white patches on the gums, tongue or oral tissues
- Hoarse voice
- Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
If you have any of these changes, you should schedule a checkup at one of our centers. We can perform an oral exam and a cancer screening to determine what is causing your symptoms.
Routine Mouth Cancer Testing
Our dental centers are equipped with advanced dental technology, including scanning devices for oral cancer. The changes in the oral tissue cells may not be visible to the naked eye when you have mouth cancer, but our scanners can detect these minor changes. The specialized light can catch small differences in the cells, which allows for early detection of oral cancer.
Oral cancers kill an estimated 5,000 people in the U.S. each year, but this form of cancer is very treatable in the early stages. To prevent the progression of oral cancer, you should add oral cancer screening to your preventive dental care routine. When you come in for your annual oral exam, our dentists can perform your cancer screening in just a few minutes. Call our dental center in Horse Cave, Scottsville or Bowling Green, KY, to schedule your next checkup and oral cancer screening.
