Oral Cancer ScreeningCoral Gables, FL

Signs Indicating a Need for Screening

Most dentists screen for oral cancer during routine dental visits in an attempt to find lesions and signs of cancer or precancer symptoms. Identifying sores, cysts, lesions, and other conditions of cancer early greatly aids in recovery benefits. Orally-healthy individuals are often also screened as a precautionary measure and to prevent conditions that may lead to cancer in the future.

Dentists also notice signs that indicate a need for an oral cancer screening at any point between visits. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 35,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, mouth, sinuses, and throat. Symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal
• Lump on the lip or in the mouth or throat
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or mouth lining
• Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth
• A sore throat that does not go away
• The feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing
• A swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly
• A change in voice
• Ear pain

What to Expect During the Test

Oral cancer screenings do not require any preparation on the patient’s part. The screening only takes a few minutes and generally consists of the dentist looking thoroughly inside the mouth, searching for red and white patches. Using gloved hands, they also feel tissues in the mouth to check for lumps or other abnormalities. Lastly, they may also examine the throat and neck for lumps, especially if the patient complains of a sore or dry throat or pain in the throat.

For more intensive screenings, the dentists will inspect the face, neck, lips, and mouth to screen for all types of oral cancers. They will feel the area under the jaw and sides of the neck with both hands to check for lumps as well as the insides of the lips and cheeks. The patient will stick their tongue out so we can check it for swelling, discoloration, or abnormal texture. The dentist will gently pull the tongue with gauze from one side to the other, checking for cancerous conditions underneath the tongue or at its base.

Habits Contributing to Oral Cancer

Although researchers are not certain as to how oral cancer is acquired or its development, there are certain risk factors that contribute to it. According to the Mayo Clinic, risk factors include tobacco use of any kind (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, vapes), heavy alcohol use, previous cancer diagnoses, and history of significant sun exposure (increases the risk of lip cancer). Other factors include excessive use of betel nut, a poor diet, acid reflux, human papilloma viruses (HPV), and a compromised immune system.

Prevention

There are several ways a person can prevent oral cancers from developing or mitigate the symptoms. The most crucial way is maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine and regularly visiting the dentist for checkups, cleanings, and oral cancer screenings. Another way is eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet consisting of an increased amount of fruits and vegetables. Lastly, avoiding risk factors, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and intense sunlight hours without SPF, can greatly decrease the risk of oral cancer development.

When and How Often

Complete health dentists will often advise oral cancer tests when a patient is experiencing cancer-related symptoms or falls under the high-risk category. Patients whose habits are contributing factors may also be routinely screened for cancer as a preventative measure. Patients with a family history or prior oral cancer diagnoses will receive screenings more often than the average patient with no history.

Oral cancer screenings are often requested by a patient or advised by a doctor or dentist when symptoms appear or as a routine check. The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screening exams every three years for people over age 20 and annually for those over age 40. However, because symptoms do not always appear and many types of oral cancers arise suddenly, it is a good idea to get tested annually.

Post-Test Protocol

Following an oral cancer screening, the dentist will discuss any signs or lesions with the patient. If there are no signs of concern, the patient will be free to go or continue with whatever treatment they need. If the results show cancerous or precancerous conditions, we recommend a follow-up visit after a few weeks to check if the area is still present and growing or has changed or diminished over time. We also conduct a biopsy procedure to remove sample cells from the lesion to run more lab tests.

Positive oral cancer screenings may prompt additional tests to confirm the result and determine the type of cancer to properly treat it. These tests include an oral cancer screening dye, rinsing the mouth with a special blue dye before an exam to make abnormal cells in the mouth appear blue. We will also shine an oral cancer screening light in your mouth during an exam, the light makes healthy tissue appear dark and makes abnormal tissue appear white. After processing all tests, we may treat the patient or refer them to a dentist who specializes in oral cancer treatments, including surgeries and chemotherapy.

Consult With Us

If you are looking for more information pertaining to complete health dentistry or oral cancer screenings, or would like to schedule an appointment for a screening, call us at (305) 740-1443 to speak to Dr. Bushdid.