Besides catching early signs of tooth decay and other oral diseases damaging your smile and health, regular visits to your dentist may potentially save your life. Symptoms of oral cancer can be quite tricky – they often progress unnoticed, and when they become evident, you might find yourself in an unfortunate and life-threatening situation.
Contact Now 586-775-4260Oral cancers are usually diagnosed when they are already very advanced. The neoplastic lesions in the oral cavity often resemble traumatic, fungal, or viral origin. Unfortunately, late detection results in a high mortality rate – fifty to sixty percent of patients may not experience favorable outcomes of the treatment.
The good news is that Kelly Road Dental Care performs comprehensive oral cancer screenings, which help us detect any alarming signs and changes early on.
Cancer is a group of cells that grow pathologically (abnormally) and stop responding to physiological stimuli of the body. Since cancer cells do not die, they sometimes proliferate and form a tumor, with the exception of blood cancers. Cancer is a disease that can affect virtually any tissue in the human body, and can be categorized as benign, locally malignant, and malignant neoplasms.
Oral cancers belong to a large group of cancers found in the head and neck region. These include:
The dentist should pay close attention to the first five locations. All types of neoplasms can occur in this area. The following factors are particularly predisposed to the development of oral cancer:
Early detection of oral cavity neoplasms is based on creating conditions during the examination of the mucosa to reveal changes that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The fluid used to rinse the mouth and a specialized lamp that highlights cancerous changes can help evaluate the mucosa and detect troublesome characteristics of oral cancer.
The dentist’s task is to diagnose and treat not only teeth, but the entire mouth. In many cases, it is the dentist who first notices the symptoms that may suggest the development of many dangerous systemic diseases, including cancer. That is why, at Kelly Road Dental Care, we go beyond the standard procedures of a dentist’s office.
Our doctors as well as dental hygienists carefully monitor all possible disturbing changes during a dental examination. Such a thorough cancer screening allows us to notice the early symptoms of a neoplastic disease, giving the best chance of recovery.
Thanks to the technological advances implemented in our practice and the experience of our seasoned dentists, we can offer effective diagnosis and prevention of oral cancer.
Education – we inform our patients about the dangers of pathological changes in the oral cavity and explain how important it is to care for oral hygiene and what behaviors increase the risk of disease.
Diagnostics – we conduct screening tests, including a detailed medical interview, as well as extra- and intra-oral examinations. During the screening, not only the condition of your teeth and gums is assessed, but also the entire oral cavity, the inner parts of the cheeks, palate, throat, and above all – the lips, tongue and mucosa. In addition, when examining the patient, our dentists pay attention to the facial symmetry, lymph nodes, and other lesions on the patient’s skin.
The clinical screening at Kelly Road Dental Care is supplemented by three-dimensional CBCT X-ray diagnostics and laboratory tests. In the event of any disturbing symptoms, the patient is referred for additional tests or oncological consultation.
Prevention – we provide special care to patients classified as higher risk groups. These people are invited to more frequent check-ups and we systematically monitor the condition of their oral cavity. We also sensitize to alarming symptoms that may suggest the development of neoplastic disease and promote healthy behaviors.
Don’t wait for the symptoms to come with their full strength. Regular oral screening exams are extremely important to quickly detect pathological changes in your mouth. Schedule your consultation today and enjoy a long and healthy life!
