Oral Cancer Check

For early detection of oral cancers. Oral cancer checks are considered quite a vital procedure by dental practitioners to perform to detect precancerous conditions prevailing in the mouth. Dental Practitioners at Goldfields Family Dental Clinic will examine every part of your mouth starting from cheeks, tongues, lips, gums, the roof, and the floor of your mouth to look for any abnormal cancer-indicating signs. So, the primary aim of the screening is to detect cancerous cells early to increase the chance of recovery.

After the screening, if the dentist finds any lesions or abnormalities, you will be later referred to oral medicine specialist for assessment.

Why Is It Important to Have Oral Cancer Checks?

One of the most prevalent cancer types among head and neck cancers is oral cancer.

Having oral cancer screenings allows healthcare professionals to identify warnings like-

Unusual mouth and lip sores and lumps
Leukoplakia or erythroplakia symptoms, white or red patches in the mouth respectively
Prolonged ulcer conditions in the mouth or stiffness/tenderness

The factors below may show an increased oral cancer risk-

Using too much tobacco either for smoking or chewing
Consuming excess alcohol
HPV or Human papillomavirus infection
History of oral cancer diagnosis previously
Risk of lip cancer from extended sun exposure

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Is Involved In An Oral Cancer Screening?

There will be a bunch of visual and tactile tests that you may have to go through during an oral cancer screening. These include-

Visual Examinations

The dentist will be inspecting your gums, cheeks, tongue, lips, etc for abnormal lumps, ulcer signs, and of course discoloration

Palpation

Using their fingers, the dentists will check for bumps along the lining of your mouth, jawline, oral cavity, or neck

Examinations Using Specialized Tools at the Oral Medicine Clinic

Sometimes toluidine blue dyes are used to detect abnormal tissues in the mouth
Besides, using fluorescent lights can also differentiate between abnormal and healthy tissues

Don’t worry, the screening isn’t a lengthy process, it takes about 5-10 minutes and it comes with taking photographs of unresolved areas for future inspection.

For a diagnostic follow-up, if early signs are detected then the healthcare professionals will recommend the following tests as well-

Microscopic examinations of mouth cells and collecting them through cytology test
Suspicious mouth tissues will be removed and analyzed in the lab using a biopsy
If cancer spread is suspected, barium swallows or CT scans will be used to detect it

Can I Do Self-Screening for Cancer at Home?

Well, you definitely can do some monthly oral cancer checks at home which would be a proactive way to check for potential cancer signs. However, this should not neglect the minimum bi-annual professional oral cancer screenings if you are suspected to be affected. Let’s look at some basic tips and tricks for self screening of oral cancer-

Take a look at the inner parts of your mouth in a mirror to check for any signs of trouble in the mouth tissues, such as lumps, rashes, swelling, and discoloration.
Use your fingers to check for swollen or asymmetrical parts of the mouth gently
Look for white or red patches in the inner lining of the mouth by gently pulling your cheeks outward
Check for discoloration of gums by gently pulling the lips outward
Use your fingers to inspect your gums for abnormalities
Check if there are any recent changes under your tongue or the roof of your mouth
Also, don’t forget to use your tongue to check the mouth floor for ulcers, swelling, lesions, etc.

If you are showing signs of oral discomfort and there is a cancer probability, visit us immediately at the Goldfields Family Dental Clinic to get checked because early detection can be life-saving!