Oral cancer strikes an estimated 30,000 Americans each year. To save lives, the Maine Dental Association is bringing attention to oral cancer during April’s Oral Cancer Awareness Month.
Dentists are trained to detect signs of oral cancer during routine examinations, and early detection provides the best opportunity for a cure. Unfortunately, only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years.
Oral cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth. It can affect any area of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissue, check lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
Anyone can develop oral cancer, with the incidence of oral cancer increasing after age 40. Oral cancer screening is a routine part of each dental examination. Regular check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it.
During the examination, the dentist may notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore. Although most of these are harmless, some are not. Harmful oral spots or sores often look identical to those that are harmless, but testing can tell them apart.
Dentists often will notice a spot or sore that looks harmless and does not have a clear cause. To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, your dentist may choose to perform a simple test such as a brush test. A brush test collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth. The cells are sent to a laboratory for analysis. If precancerous cells are found, the lesion can be surgically removed if necessary during a separate procedure. It’s important to know that all atypical and positive results from a brush test must be confirmed by additional testing.
People who use tobacco have a high risk of oral cancer. Combining alcohol with tobacco greatly increases the risk. Prolonged exposure to the sun also increases the risk of lip cancer.
Warning signs include:
• A sore inside the mouth that bleeds easily or does not heal
• A color change of the tongue or mouth tissues
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.
One of the most effective means to protect your health is to know the risk factors and see a dentist for oral cancer screenings.
check lining? guess spell cheek didn’t catch that ;)
It’s interesting that the only professional who routinely checks patients for oral cancer is a dentist. That’s the one health professional often not covered by insurance plans.
“It’s interesting that the only professional who routinely checks patients for oral cancer is a dentist. That’s the one health professional often not covered by insurance plans. ”
We can change that–insist your personal physician learn how to do it –really 30 seconds, tops–and provide that to you at least once a year.
Your health, your body, your money.
Insist…
Why aren’t dentists covered by insurance? What a racket.
Why aren’t dentists covered by insurance? What a racket.
Years ago the dentist wanted their own insurance, they are the profession that made dental insurance separate from health insurance.
In some of his happier dreams Bill Clinton is a dentist.
ream and dream?
I think you will find that the registered dental hygienist is the professional that regularly checks for oral cancer. When is the last time you saw your dentist vs hygienist? The Maine board of dental examiners recently made an Independent dental hygienist STOP running an ad that stated she performed an oral cancer “screening.” Screening is the first line of defense for detection. If your dental hygienist see’s anything suspicious………..the dentist is called in (because they can perhaps make a diagnosis) and then refer you to an oral surgeon. Registered dental hygienist can’t diagnose but they can IDENTIFY anything suspicious. Kuddos to the dental hygienist that pulls the tongue out and looks around for oral cancer at your visits!!!