Oral cancer is an aggressive form of cancer and associated with high mortality rates. Early diagnosis of this disease gives sufferers the greatest chance for recovery.
This important screening makes keeping your biannual dental appointments even more essential being that at every dental exam at Dentistry for Life in Philadelphia oral cancer screenings are provided.
Your dental cleanings and checkups include far more than just plaque and tartar removal, brushing, flossing, and taking x-rays. Oral cancer screenings happen in those several minutes we spend examining your mouth after your cleaning is complete.
You may not even realize we’re looking for signs of mouth cancer because the exam is painless and brief. Oral cancer screenings include the following:
Reading this list, you may think you can check your own mouth regularly for oral cancer. You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out if something is wrong with your mouth or neck. Swollen glands, for example, can be a sign of a sore throat or other upper respiratory infection – this condition doesn’t always indicate cancer. Your dentist knows the difference.
While you can certainly look at your mouth to see if something isn’t right, your dentist is trained to recognize even the faintest signs of oral cancer. You won’t be able to recognize what a professional can see. Take advantage of these few minutes of expertise by committing to see your Philadelphia dentist every six months. A trip to the dentist can save your life, that's why at Dentistry for Life we strive to provide you with the best oral cancer screening Philadelphia has to offer.
The early stages of oral cancer are typically asymptomatic. You may not notice that anything is wrong with your mouth or see any obvious signs of cancer, but that doesn’t mean all is well. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see your Philadelphia dentist as soon as possible to have your mouth checked out:
Seeing your Philadelphia dentist every six months takes on new meaning when you understand that the visit includes an essential oral cancer screening. We keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy, but we also make sure there aren’t any dangers lurking in your mouth that are threatening your overall well-being.
Everyone is at risk of developing oral cancer, though smokers and tobacco users do have an elevated risk. Non-smokers can develop cancer associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) in the back of their mouth, the tonsils, or base of the tongue.
Remember, not every symptom or abnormality is cause for alarm. Some worrisome oral health problems can indicate other problems like gum disease. Our dentists are highly trained to recognize the difference. Contact us at Dentistry for Life in Philadelphia to schedule your appointment for a teeth cleaning and exam.
Philadelphia dentist offers saturday and sunday appointments.
Our office is located at 1601 Walnut Street #1217 in Philadelphia. We offer appointments seven days a week to make dental care convenient for you and your schedule: