Oral Cancer Screening
Receiving an oral cancer screening helps you maintain both good oral and overall health. Our team’s combined experience and expertise qualifies us to screen for oral cancer and point you in the right direction for treatment. The sooner we perform an oral cancer screening, the higher the chances are the treatment will be a success.
Don’t wait to receive an oral cancer screening. Call Desert Dental Alternatives to schedule one today.
How We Screen for Oral Cancer
Desert Dental Alternatives screens for oral cancer by using an advanced ViziLite® device. The device’s special spectrum of light highlights lesions, discolorations and other potential signs of oral cancer on your soft tissues. If we spot any of these during the screening, we may recommend you get a biopsy so you can receive a professional diagnosis. From there, you would potentially be put on a treatment plan for your specific condition.
Oral Cancer Symptoms
Figuring out if you should come in for an oral cancer screening means knowing what symptoms to look for. Some may include:
- Loose teeth
- Mouth or ear pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- A growth or lump in your mouth
- A white or reddish patch in your mouth
- A persistent lip or mouth sore
Since oral cancer can develop in any part of your oral cavity, it’s important you look for symptoms in your:
- Lips
- Gums
- Tongue
- Cheeks’ inner lining
- Roof and floor of mouth
Be as thorough as possible when you’re looking for symptoms so you can let our dental team know why you came in for an oral cancer screening. Oral cancer also shares some of the same symptoms as less serious diagnoses, such as infections, so your dentist may check for those too.
When Should I Make an Appointment if I Have Those Symptoms?
Make an oral cancer screening appointment with Desert Dental Alternatives if any of the symptoms above last for more than two weeks. These symptoms lasting that long doesn’t mean they’re definitively from oral cancer, however, more than two weeks marks a good time to at least receive a screening.