Oral Cancer Screenings in Fort Gratiot & Michigan

Cancer is an abnormal, uncontrollable growth of cells, which can cause severe damage to surrounding healthy tissue over time. Oral cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) includes mouth, tongue, gum, lip, throat, and jaw cancer. In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with oral cancer has been on the rise. However, the exact cause for most forms of mouth or throat cancer isn’t always apparent. Many healthcare experts believe you’re more likely to develop oral cancer if:

• You smoke or chew tobacco of any kind (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, etc.)
• You drink heavy amounts of alcohol frequently
• You have a history of significant sun exposure (increases the risk for lip cancer)
• You have a personal or family history of oral cancer
• You have HPV (human papillomavirus, which is a sexually transmitted infection)

• Mouth cancer sores (red and white patches or bleeding sores that don’t heal)
• Noticeable swelling or thickening inside areas of your mouth
• Lumps or bumps along your lips, gums, and inside your mouth
• Unexplained bleeding or numbness/tenderness
• Trouble swallowing, chewing, or speaking

• Chronic hoarseness or sore throat
• Significant, unexplained weight loss
• Chronic ear pain or infections
• Changes in your bite or how your dentures fit

What to Expect During Your Oral Cancer Screening Exam

You don’t need to do anything to prepare for an oral cancer screening. It’s a routine exam performed by your dentist. During this physical and oral exam, we may feel around inside your mouth and under your jaw for lumps or signs of tenderness or swelling. Using a special flashlight, we’ll likely inspect the roof of your mouth, the back of your throat, the insides of your cheeks, and your tongue, gums, and lips for mouth cancer sores and any other abnormalities. If you wear dentures, you may need to remove them during the oral exam. If we see any signs of preoral cancer, we may recommend a follow-up visit or a biopsy for additional analysis and diagnosis. Oral cancer screenings are a short part of your annual check-up and not something you should be wary about when scheduling an appointment. Even if cancerous cell growth is found, the American Dental Association (ADA) is quick to point out early diagnosis and treatment are usually in your best interest.

How Oral Cancer Screenings Help Save Our Patients’ Lives

Health experts may not always agree on everything, but many recognize the value of oral cancer screenings for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease before it progresses to later stages. If we find something unusual in your oral cancer screening, further testing or a biopsy may be necessary. Not all abnormal cell growth, mouth sores, and lesions are cancerous. While oral cancer screenings can’t detect all mouth and throat cancers, they do help save lives. Individuals at a higher risk for developing mouth cancer may want to get tested more often than the recommended annual check-up. Talk to your family dentist to determine the dental treatment most appropriate for you. Smile Zone Dental customizes treatment plans for every patient’s unique needs.