Oral Cancer Screening

The Importance of Regular Oral Cancer Screenings for Early Detection in Coral Gables and Plantation

Oral cancer is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease that affects thousands of people each year. However, when caught early, oral cancer can often be successfully treated. That’s why it’s essential to receive regular oral cancer screenings as part of your routine dental care.

An oral cancer screening is a visual and physical examination of your mouth, tongue, and throat to check for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions. During the screening, your dentist will look for abnormalities, such as lumps, bumps, or sores, and may perform additional tests, such as a biopsy, if necessary.

Risk factors for oral cancer include tobacco and alcohol use, sun exposure to the lips, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, even individuals without these risk factors should still receive regular oral cancer screenings, as anyone can develop oral cancer.

Early detection is critical to successful treatment of oral cancer. That’s why we recommend that all our patients receive regular oral cancer screenings during their dental checkups. If you experience any symptoms, such as mouth sores or difficulty swallowing, it’s important to contact your dentist right away for an evaluation.

Warning Signs of Oral Cancer

The most common sign of oral cancer is mouth pain and sores that do not heal. However, there are other less subtle signs of oral cancer including:

Chronic bad breath
Trouble chewing and swallowing
Pain or difficulty moving the tongue
Weight loss
The sensation that something is caught in your throat
A lump in your cheek

If have one or more of these symptoms for longer than two weeks, it’s recommended that you have an oral examination. Although these symptoms can also be found in other types of oral conditions, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance. Catching oral cancer before it has a chance to spread is the best way to increase survival rates.