April is Oral Cancer Awareness month and regular visits to the dentist can be your best defense against the most common form of head and neck cancer. That’s because early detection is crucial. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we provide oral cancer screenings – Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos as well as our hygienists perform screenings during your regular check up appointments. To help raise awareness, here’s what you need to know about oral cancer, its causes and common symptoms, and our screening procedure.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is a general term that covers cancers in your lips and mouth. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 11 out of 100,000 people will develop oral cancer in their lifetime. If it is left untreated, it can spread to other parts of your head and neck. It’s encouraging to note that when oral cancer is detected and treated early, there is a 80-90% survival rate.
Common Causes of Oral Cancers
For the majority of cases, oral cancer is linked with the following habits:
- Smoke and/or use tobacco
- Drink excessive amounts of alcohol
- Spend long periods in the sun without protection
- Have the Human papillomavirus (HPV).
While smoking is the leading cause of oral cancer, there are increasingly more and more young people developing oral cancer due to the HPV virus.
Oral Cancer Symptoms
If you notice any changes to your mouth or experience any pain or tenderness, you should let us know. Here are some of the common symptoms and warning signs for oral cancer, including:
- White or red patches in the mouth
- Sores that fail to heal
- Abnormal lumps in the gums or neck
- Numbness or pain in the face, mouth or neck without cause
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Chronic bad breath
If you discover an area of concern, please let us know so we can see you promptly for a thorough exam.
FDA’s Oral Cancer Screening
At FDA, Dr. Brunacini, Dr. Karagiorgos, and our hygienists perform oral cancer screenings for our patients at every hygiene appointment. These screenings may include:
Visual Exam
During a visual exam of the mouth, we look at the gum tissue, lips, checks, and tongue. Additionally we gently palpate or press on areas of the face and neck to check for any irregular lumps. If we have any concerns, we may offer to do a screening with VELscope.
VELscope screening
VELscope is a screening device that emits a blue light that quickly identifies abnormal cells before they are visible to the naked eye. It is a safe and non-invasive procedure. We find it to be helpful for early detection of oral cancer.
We also perform CBCT 3D X-Rays which enables us to better visualize all of the structures within your head, neck, and mouth and assess your oral health. 3D imaging can be helpful in determining subsequent steps for the ideal treatment of an area of concern.
If we have any reason for concern after a screening, our next step would be to refer you to an oral surgeon for additional consultation and a possible biopsy. As your partner in oral health, we will remain involved every step of the way to provide support and follow-up care.
As always, when you have any questions about your oral health or the oral cancer screening process, please don’t hesitate to call us. We are always happy to answer your questions so you feel informed and confident about your oral health!
