Why do our Placerville dentists perform an oral cancer screening at every routine dental exam? Because cancer screening is easy to do, painless and can save your life! With some simple steps and understanding about the risks for oral cancer, our Placerville Dental Group patients are protected from potentially disastrous oral cancer.
An Initially Painless Disease
Oral cancers tend to be painless and many patients don’t even notice there might be something wrong until it begins to affect other parts of the body. When detected early, oral cancer is curable with a significantly improved recovery rate. The screening is painless and so quick you probably don’t even notice when we check your gums, lips, tongue and palate for early signs of cancer at your semi-annual cleaning appointments.
Anyone Can Get Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can affect anyone, not just smokers. Literally anyone can be at risk! However, tobacco users and patients who consume a lot of alcohol on a regular basis are at higher risk to develop oral cancer. New research also suggests that while most oral cancers are diagnosed in people age 50 and over, younger patients are also at risk due to complications caused by HPV, or the human papillomavirus.
Oral Cancer Warning Signs
Contact the Placerville Group if you experience any of the following symptoms, as they may be early warning signs of oral cancer:
- Difficulty swallowing and/or hoarseness that doesn’t go away,
- Bleeding in the mouth or throat,
- Red or white patches in your mouth or lips that don’t go away,
- Sores in your mouth that don’t heal after two weeks,
- Swelling, lumps or growths in or near your mouth and neck.
The Placerville Dental Group puts our patients needs and well-being in first place, so next time you see us for your exam and cleaning, feel free to discuss with us any concerns you have about oral cancer or other health issues.
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