is unfortunately more widespread than you might think, affecting approximately 54,000 people each year. Because of this, our Ada, MI, dentists stand by screenings as they are crucial when it comes to catching symptoms early on and treating them. Checking for oral cancer in our office is painless and involves both a visual and physical examination of the mouth. Here’s what else you should know about oral cancer screenings.
Most of the common are obvious, but could be confused for other conditions. This is why it’s so important to alert both our dentists and your general doctor when something doesn’t seem right.
Our dentists recommend that all patients receive an oral cancer screening at least once annually. However, you may want to come into our Ada, MI, dental office more often if you’re at increased risk for oral cancer.
An oral cancer screening is quick and painless. Typically, it’s a part of your routine dental exam and consists of a visual and physical inspection. We’ll start by using gloved hands to gently feel for any suspicious lumps or tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and mouth. As for the visual portion, one of our dentists or hygienists will examine your mouth and double-check for any visible sores or discolored tissue. We’ll also keep an eye out for any of the symptoms mentioned above. If there is an area that demands more investigation, we may order a biopsy to determine whether cancer is present.
It’s not expected that you receive an oral cancer screening all the time, but our , encourage you to not ignore the process completely. Call Norman Family Dentistry today at (616) 676-9177 to request an appointment and get started.