OUR OFFICE IS NOT ONLY DEDICATED TO YOUR SMILE, WE'RE ALSO DEDICATED TO YOUR OVERALL WELLNESS.
Our dental office in The Woodlands, Texas includes oral cancer screenings with your regular exams. Like many kinds of cancer, oral cancer can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. We take a thorough and proactive approach to your dental care by including an oral cancer screening with every regular exam.
Our office has the skills and tools to ensure that early signs and symptoms of oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified. While these symptoms may be caused by other less serious problems, it is very important to visit our office to rule out the possibility of oral cancer.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of oral cancer include:
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A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
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Red or white spots or sores anywhere in the oral cavity
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A lump, thickening, or rough spot
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Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue
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Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
Our team is trained in a simple, quick screening that involves an examination of your oral cavity as a whole, including your teeth to detect cancerous and precancerous conditions. Besides a visual examination of your mouth, we will also feel the tissue of your mouth and throat to detect any abnormalities. If we find an area of concern, we may perform a simple test, such as a brush test, which collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth to be sent to a lab for analysis. If this test comes back atypical or positive, we may recommend a biopsy.
PREVENTION SERVICES
Aside from receiving an oral cancer screening during your checkup at our office, there are many things you can do to help prevent oral cancer.
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Avoid all tobacco products and only drink alcohol in moderation
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Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
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Limit your exposure to the sun and always wear UV-A/B blocking sun protection on your skin and lips
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CHECK FOR ORAL CANCER?
The best way to check for oral cancer is often. Checking often means we can discover it early and have an opportunity to do something about it and apply proper treatment. We aim to provide the best dental care possible to our patients. This is one reason why our oral cancer screenings are included with every regular exam.
WHAT IF YOU FIND SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS DURING MY REGULAR EXAM?
If we find something to cause alarm during your exam, there is still a chance that it is nothing of concern. Accidentally chewing the inside of your cheeks or irritation from braces may create a suspicious looking area that has nothing to do with oral cancer.
If something like this occurs, we may ask you to come visit our office in a few weeks, at which time we will take another look and see if the area has healed. If it has not healed, then we will recommend further exams. A biopsy may be performed and depending on the results we will guide you in the right direction. We will assist you throughout the process and help you understand your options.
GIVE US A CALL AND WE WILL SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT
If you think you may have oral cancer, please give us a call as soon as possible so we may take a look. The earlier you take action, the better. When was the last time you visited the dentist for a regular check-up? If it has been over 6 months, give us a call and we'll schedule your regular exam which includes an oral cancer screening. View our hours and get directions to our office on our contact page.