Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

What Is An Oral Cancer Screening For?

18 March 2018 by Charlotte Beck

If you are planning a visit to the dentist soon and have not been to one recently, you might be surprised when the dentist performs an oral cancer screening during your examination. This is something many dentists have done for years; however, some dentists have just recently started doing this. Here are several things you should know about oral cancer screenings performed by dentists.

The purpose

The purpose of an oral cancer screening is to detect signs of cancer in and around your mouth. The examination takes place by the dentist looking and feeling different parts of your mouth and throat. As the dentist examines you for oral cancer, he or she will look for any irregularities, such as lumps or discoloration of your gums. An oral cancer screening takes only a minute or two to perform, but it is a vital part of a dental visit today.

Oral cancer screenings are important for all patients, but they are especially important for people who are at a higher risk for developing oral cancer. This includes people who smoke or use other forms of tobacco products and people who consume a lot of alcohol. Anyone who has ever had a history of oral cancer is also considered a high-risk person for developing it again.

In some cases, dentists will place dye in a person's mouth when performing this screening. After that, the dentist aims a light inside the person's mouth. If the dentist sees blue parts in the person's mouth, it can be a sign of cancer or some other problem.

What happens next

If the dentist finds any irregularities during the screening, he or she is likely to refer you to an oral surgeon or doctor. If the dentist found a lump or growth of some kind, an oral surgeon will perform a biopsy of it and remove it. If it tests positive for cancer, the person may need to go through additional steps to make sure it is all removed from his or her body. If it tests negative, having the lump removed is usually the only step required.

If your dentist does not find any problems in your mouth, you most likely do not have anything to worry about.

Getting an oral cancer screening is important, and you can do this by visiting a dentist. If you have not visited a dentist for a while, now is a good time to call a clinic, like Red Oak Dentist, and make an appointment for a cleaning and examination.

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