April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time when dentists try and emphasize to their patients how important it is to be cognizant of this deadly condition.
Early detection is crucial to treating the disease, which is why most dentists will perform an oral cancer screening at every checkup with their patients. If you have one coming up, here’s what that kind of oral cancer screening is liable to look like.
They Typical Oral Cancer Screening
For the most part, oral cancer screenings are fairly simple. They take mere moments and rarely involve any sophisticated imaging equipment.
First, your dentist will just look inside your mouth. They’ll check for any obvious abnormalities, like sores or splotches that could be indicative of cancer. They’ll then use gloved hands to feel inside the cheeks and lips for any protrusions. Finally, they’ll take a look at your neck, searching for any hard immobile lumps that could indicate cancer.
And that’s usually it! If there’s nothing amiss, the dentist will move on to the rest of the checkup.
The Fancy Stuff
Some dentists want to make sure that they won’t miss anything, so they’ll incorporate some tools to make the oral cancer exam a little easier. Screening dye, for example, is specially designed to be absorbed by abnormal tissue. Some dentists may ask you to rinse with it before your exam to make sores and lesions easier to see.
Screening lights are similar. The light is designed so that it isn’t reflected by healthy tissue, meaning that it will make unhealthy tissue glow while the rest of the mouth remains dark.
Follow-up And Biopsy
If your dentist does find anything, they’ll probably ask you to come in for a follow-up appointment. There are quite a few oral health problems that look like oral cancer, but most of these benign conditions will heal on their own.
If you come back and the problem is still present, your dentist will perform a biopsy and send a tissue sample to the lab. That will be the best way for your dentist to determine the issue once and for all.
About Our Practice
At Kingwood Family Dentistry, we know that the right dentist can make all the difference in the world. That’s why we try to offer that to all of our patients and to ensure that they can get the incredible dental care that they deserve. Regardless of what you and your family need, we’re confident in our ability to supply you with the highest quality of dentistry.
If you have any questions about oral cancer, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (281) 359-6672.