During every dental examination at Priority Dental in Casper, we look for signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer refers to cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat.
Many people don’t realize just how serious oral cancer is. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 39,000 people will get oral cancer this year.
Consider this sobering news from the Oral Cancer Foundation:
“The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).”
When we perform an oral cancer screening during your dental examination, we look for red or white spots, bleeding, lumps, difficulty swallowing, loose teeth, any color changes, and mouth sores. Is is important to tell us if your bite has changed, if you have sores that won’t heal, and prolonged hoarseness. An earache in only one ear can also be an indicator.
The existence of any of these symptoms does not mean you have oral cancer, as they can be caused by any number of other conditions. However, if we discover something unusual, we may order additional tests or refer you to a medical doctor for further diagnosis and treatment if necessary.
It’s probably no surprise that the main risk factor for oral cancer is tobacco use. This includes all forms, not just cigarettes. Those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol are also more likely to contract this deadly cancer. People with HPV, a sexually-transmitted virus, have a higher risk. Prolonged sun exposure to lips makes lip cancer more likely. All of these are lifestyle-related and, to a great extent, preventable.
When it comes to oral cancer, the dentists at Priority Dental in Casper take no chances. Screenings are part of every family dentistry examination. We also offer restorative dentistry, and many other services. Scheudle an apointment with us today.
Contact Priority Dental:
307-333-6285
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1224 E. 2nd St.
Casper, Wyoming
82601