Oral Cancer Screening

Have You Had an Oral Cancer Screening Recently?

Perhaps you’re not even sure what an oral cancer screening is and why you would need it? Oral cancer is a disease that affects the inside of the mouth. It can develop inside your cheeks, on your gums, the roof or floor of your mouth, and your tongue, lips, and throat. It often first appears as a sore spot that fails to heal properly or as a growth and can become life-threatening if not detected early and treated promptly. One problem with oral cancer is that the early signs are often painless, meaning it can be well advanced before it is diagnosed, and this is why oral cancer screenings are so important.

What Are the Signs of Oral Cancer?

Signs of oral cancer include:

• Sore spots inside your mouth or on your face or neck that fail to heal within two weeks and bleed easily
• A sore throat or feeling like something is stuck in your throat
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue or jaw
• Unexplained pain, tenderness, or numbness in the mouth, face, or neck
• Tissues changing color, developing red or white patches that look velvety, or sometimes patches with a speckled mix of red and white
• Changes in your voice, causing it to become hoarse
• Ear pain
• Noticing your teeth fitting together slightly differently or any appliances like dentures not fitting as well as before
• Dramatic, unexpected weight loss

Who Can Provide Oral Cancer Screening?

Dentists are specially trained to provide oral cancer screenings regularly, and if you think about it, they are the perfect people to provide this service. Usually, most people need to see a dentist every six months for routine checkups and professional dental cleanings. Many dentists provide an oral cancer screening as part of these routine visits.

What to Expect When You Have an Oral Cancer Screening?

An oral cancer screening is quick, painless, and non-invasive, and whenever you see your dentist, they will update your medical history. They will ask if you have received any new diagnoses of medical problems or if you have been prescribed any new medications. Dentists will often ask if you have any risk factors for oral cancer, and two of the best-known are excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. People who have both habits are at even higher risk of developing oral cancer. If you are male, you are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as a female, and it’s the sixth most common cancer amongst males.

During your oral cancer screening, your dentist will visually check the tissues inside your mouth, as well as your lips. Some dentists also use a small handheld device that shines a special light onto the tissues. The light causes the tissues to fluoresce, and any tissues that have cell changes will fluoresce slightly differently than healthy tissues making them easier to identify. However, if your dentist doesn’t use a handheld device, you needn’t worry, as their visual examination is considered the gold standard. The use of the handheld device is simply an added extra.

Your dentist will gently feel inside your mouth, and they are checking for any signs of lumps or bumps or rough or thickened areas of tissue. Other signs your dentist is looking for include color changes to the tissues or any signs of lesions. They may use a clean piece of gauze to move your tongue gently out of the way so they can check underneath. Your dentist may carefully feel the lymph nodes in your neck for any signs of swelling.

Conducting Self Checks between Appointments

While oral cancer screenings at your dentist are excellent for detecting any changes to your oral health, it can be a good idea to conduct self-checks between your appointments, usually every month. Use a mirror in a well-lit area to visually examine the inside of your mouth, looking for any color changes. Carefully feel your oral tissues using a clean finger to check for any signs of lumps or bumps or rough spots that shouldn’t be there. Be aware of any sore spots that have been there for longer than two weeks and are failing to heal properly. Regularly checking the inside of your mouth will help you become accustomed to what is normal and what might require further investigation.

When to Contact Your Dentist?

If you notice anything different or have an ulcer that isn’t healing properly, you should always contact your dentist for further help and advice. It’s important to realize that pain isn’t a useful indicator, and you shouldn’t wait for a symptom to become painful before seeking help. When you see your dentist or talk to them, they can help set your mind at rest or can conduct further investigations if needed.

Your dentist can examine the area in question, and if necessary, they will recommend further tests such as a biopsy. A biopsy is where a small tissue sample is taken for further examination and can detect any changes to the tissues inside your mouth. There are a couple of ways of taking a biopsy. The easiest and quickest is with a small brush rotated over the surface of the area in question to collect a sample of cells. However, a brush biopsy doesn’t always provide a definitive answer. Sometimes it can be better to have a tissue biopsy where a small tissue sample is removed for analysis. It may be possible for your dentist to remove the whole area in question for further investigation, and sometimes this may get rid of all the abnormal tissue, so no more treatment is needed. Otherwise, your dentist can refer you to the appropriate specialist for treatment and advice.

What Is the Treatment for Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is treated similarly to other cancers, so the treatment provided will depend on how far the cancer has spread so that you may need surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As with any form of cancer, the sooner you get a diagnosis, the better the long-term prognosis, and it’s just another reason why those six-monthly visits to your dentist are so important.