ORAL CANCER SCREENING
Oral cancer can be disfiguring and even fatal. An oral cancer screening is a quick, non-invasive procedure. Fortunately, there are often early indications of precancerous or cancerous symptoms, making early diagnosis critical in increasing the chances for a positive outcome.
Surgery for oral cancer can leave patients with aesthetic and functional impairments that affect eating, drinking, and speaking. But an early diagnosis may prevent the need for oral surgery.
Some common signs and symptoms of oral cancer include:
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White or red open lesions in your mouth that aren’t healing
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Chronically irritated or sore areas in your mouth
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Wrinkling or thickening of oral tissues
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Eroded or rough areas in your mouth
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Numbness or tenderness around your lips or in your mouth
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Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or talking
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Chronic laryngitis (hoarseness) and a sore throat
If abnormalities are detected, you will be referred to a specialist for definitive biopsy and treatment.
Video: American Dental Association (Oct 2017)
HPV: Head, Neck, and Oral Cancers
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Nearly all sexually active people will get human papillomavirus (HPV) at some time in their life if they don’t get the HPV vaccine.
Human papillomavirus Signs and symptoms include:
- A sore, or soreness or irritation that doesn’t go away
- Red or white patches, or pain, tenderness, or numbness in mouth or lips
- Lumps, thickening tissues, rough spots, crusty or eroded areas
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw or tongue
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth
Some patients complain of a persistent sore throat, feeling like something is caught in their throat, hoarseness, a change in voice, earaches, pain when swallowing, and unexplained weight loss. If you have any of these symptoms, let Dr. Crooks know, especially if you’ve had them for two weeks or more!
By undergoing routine cleanings and examinations with Dr. Monica Crooks and her team of highly trained hygienists, you significantly increase the chances of detecting and identifying any suspicious changes early on.
Early oral cancer detection safeguards your health by enabling any necessary treatment to happen when the problem is small and localized. The risk of oral cancer increases with age, as well as with tobacco and alcohol use, and with exposure to human papillomavirus infection (HPV) through oral sex.
Don’t let any health concerns go unchecked! Call (916) 922-2027 to schedule an oral cancer screening with Dr. Monica Crooks or book online today!
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