Oral Cancer Screening
Get your oral cancer screening at Pickens Family Dentistry. Oral cancer can be detected and diagnosed by your dentist during your comprehensive oral exam. However, if you’re in a group with higher risk factors for oral cancer, you should be checked more often. In Pickens, SC oral cancer screenings can also be booked as separate appointments at Pickens Family Dentistry.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer includes cancer that occurs in any part of the oral cavity, which includes the mouth and the back of the throat. This type of cancer may develop on any of the soft tissues in the oral cavity, such as the inside of the cheeks, on and under the tongue, on the base of the tongue, on gum tissue, behind the lips, and at the back of the throat. Nearly 53,000 new instances of oral cancer are detected every year in the U.S., and many of those were found by dentists.
Risk Factors For Oral Cancer
Certain factors and lifestyle choices increase the chances for oral cancer. These include but are not limited to:
- Age – those over 40 have higher odds
- Tobacco use – this includes all forms: vaping, pipes, cigars, chewing, cigarettes
- Alcohol use – this includes all forms: wine, spirits, beer
- Viral infection – specifically, HPV
What to Expect With an Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer screenings don’t take long, and they are completely painless and non-invasive. Your dentist in Pickens, SC uses light to conduct a visual examination of the mouth and back of the throat. They may also lightly run a finger along the soft tissue to pick up any tenderness. You’ll also be asked questions regarding your lifestyle that includes risk factors as mentioned above. If any abnormalities are detected, your dentist will suggest next steps, which will include tissue sampling for confirmation of diagnosis.
When you see how easy oral cancer screenings are, it makes sense to get them on a regular basis. Contact us to learn more about this life-saving service.
