Oral Cancer Screenings – Simpsonville, SC
Smile Health - Live Healthy
When a disease kills one person an hour and has a 50% chance of death within five years of diagnosis, physicians need to take it seriously. Oral cancer is a disease that fits these statistics, and according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, the best way to reduce the numbers of annual deaths attributed to oral cancer is to diagnose this disease in earlier stages. That’s where the Tylan Creek Family Dentistry team can help. Our dentists provide thorough oral cancer screenings in Simpsonville, SC as part of every six month dental checkup to help patients receive diagnosis and begin treatments in the earlier stages. If you have questions about oral cancer screenings or any of the other services we provide, please don’t hesitate to call the team at our dental office in Simpsonville, SC.
Does Everyone Need an Oral Cancer Screening?
Many of our patients incorrectly believe that only those patients who smoke or use tobacco are at risk for oral cancer. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. 25% or more of patients diagnosed with oral cancer each year do not engage in any high risk behaviors associated with this disease. For this reason, it’s important for all patients to receive regular screenings for oral cancer.
What are the Warning Signs of Oral Cancer?
During your six month dental checkups, we will screen for the warning signs of oral cancer, but you should let us know right away if you experience any of the following indicators of oral cancer:
- Changes in color or texture of soft tissue (cheeks, bums, tongue, or palate)
- Lumps or bumps in soft tissue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Unexplained sensitivity or pain in any oral or facial structures
- Sore throat or hoarse voice
What Happens during Oral Cancer Screenings?
Oral cancer screenings in our dental office are quick and painless. We simply use specialized lights and observation tools to examine the soft tissue for warning signs of oral cancer. Our team will visually and manually examine oral and facial structures for lumps, bumps, and discoloration. We will also need to ask you a series of questions that will help us better understand your risk for oral cancer and discover whether or not you are experiencing other symptoms that may not be visible to the naked eye like sore throat or hoarse voice.
What Comes Next if I do Have Oral Cancer?
If we find areas that indicate oral cancer, we will partner with you to receive a biopsy to confirm the affected tissues are cancerous. Once you receive a diagnosis, our team will partner with your physicians to provide ongoing treatment to remove the cancerous lesions and improve your oral and overall health. If you ever have questions about your health or oral cancer treatment options, we’ll do our best to help you better understand your treatment options and plan for care. Many of the treatments used to treat oral cancer can be detrimental to oral health, so it’s important to maintain your regular appointments with our team throughout your oral cancer treatments.