Have you ever wondered why your dentist holds your tongue so they can feel the base of your mouth or inside your cheeks? This is just one way they look for abnormalities — such as mouth sores, discoloration, or lumps — and other potential signs of oral cancer.
At Goodman Dental Center in Queen Creek, Arizona, our team provides cancer screenings as part of every regular dental appointment. However, if you have added risk factors that increase your chances of developing oral cancer, they may make additional recommendations.
Oral cancers fall into a larger group of cancers referred to as “head and neck” cancers. These abnormal cells develop in different areas related to the mouth, including the:
More than 49,000 Americans receive an oral cancer diagnosis each year.
Anyone can develop oral cancer, but it’s most common in people over age 40. Other factors that increase your risk of developing it include the following:
Men are also twice as likely to have oral cancer than women.
In most cases, dentists are the first health care providers to spot the signs of oral cancer, so your regular dental checkups are your first line of defense.
The good news is that oral cancer screenings are quick and painless. They usually take less than two minutes and involve a visual exam where we look at your entire mouth, including your face, lips, cheeks, neck, and the inside of your nose and mouth. The next step is a physical exam, and we touch your mouth, face, and neck to check for unusual masses or nodules.
Depending on your exam, we could perform additional screenings with special dyes or lights. These tests can illuminate abnormal cells in your mouth and help differentiate between healthy and abnormal tissue.
If these tests indicate precancerous lesions or signs of mouth cancer, we work with you to discuss biopsy procedures to confirm a diagnosis and outline a treatment strategy.
In the earliest stages, it can be easy to miss oral cancer on your own. So, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with our team if you have problems with your mouth, such as:
Like all forms of cancer, spotting the signs of cancer as early as possible can make treatment simpler and good outcomes more possible.
Take steps to protect your oral health by scheduling a dental exam. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Goodman Dental Center today.
