April happens to be Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so you should probably get an oral cancer screening soon. This service would honor the current occasion and keep you and your smile safe. With that said, you may not know what the screening would specifically do for you. There’s no need to panic; your Ridgefield dentist will gladly address the point. To that end, here’s a primer on oral cancer screenings and why they’re worth getting.
Context: What’s an Oral Cancer Screening?
You likely know that a dentist examines your mouth at a dental checkup. Well, an oral cancer screening is part of this examination.
Oral cancer screenings are assessments that check your mouth for oral cancer. In most cases, adults get them every few months during their regular dental checkups and cleanings. The screenings can also include extra tests (as needed) to find abnormal oral cells, though whether they’re added will depend on your situation and dentist.
Why is It Worth Getting?
An oral cancer screening is worthwhile because it detects the disease early. To that extent, it makes successful treatment of a patient’s cancer more likely.
The fact remains that oral cancer is deadly in its later stages. The condition’s 5-year survival rate drops to 69% when it reaches nearby tissues, and half of the diagnosed don’t survive more than five years. Those who do survive severe oral cancer can also suffer disfiguration.
Luckily enough, oral cancer screenings improve these odds. The early diagnoses they provide can raise the 5-year survival rate to 86%. Given that fact, they’re worth getting at each checkup.
What Does a Screening Look For?
The standard oral cancer screening features visual and physical exams. For each of these parts, a dentist assesses your gums, palate, soft tissue, and tongue for odd symptoms.
A screening’s visual exam looks for asymmetries in your mouth. Special attention is paid to bumps, swellings, lumps, sores, and white patches, which can point to oral cancer. To detect these asymmetries properly, a dentist will use a small light and mirror during their exam. They’ll also use a tongue depressor to check the back of your throat.
As for the physical exam, the dentist will simply touch areas that can “get” oral cancer. They’ll thus move their hands around your head, cheeks, and jaw, as well as under your chin and inside your mouth. Depending on what they sense, the dentist will note any odd masses and suggest further testing.
Hopefully, you now see why you should get an oral cancer screening. So, see your dental provider soon!
About the Practice
Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center is based in Ridgefield, CT. Led by Drs. Jones, Franzese, and Roberti, our practice (per its name) is here to perfect every patient’s smile. We do so by offering top-tier preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your exact needs! When combined with our warm approach and advanced technology, these services can give your whole family thriving grins! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (203)-438-8919.