It can be done as part of a standard dental exam or at the patient’s request as a preventative step. The goal is to discover oral cancer early on to improve treatment outcomes.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
According to our dentists near you at Sonrisa Dental, it is crucial to be aware of the indications and symptoms of the disease. The most common oral cancer symptoms are below.
- You have the sensation of something stuck in your throat.
- You have a sore throat that persists.
- You have pain or numbness in the face, neck, or mouth.
- Chewing or moving your jaw is difficult.
- You have an earache.
- You have unexplained bleeding in the mouth.
- Patches of white, red, or speckled skin appear all over the mouth.
- You have unhealed sores on the neck, lips, or face
- You have swelling or bumps on your gums, mouth, and lips.
What Happens During an Oral Cancer Screening?
The face, head, neck, and mouth are all visually examined. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, you should look for swellings, lumps, asymmetry, pigment patches, ulcerations, and other anomalies.
The dentist will examine the tongue, inner cheek, roof of the mouth, gums, and throat during the oral examination. During the medical assessment at Sonrisa Dental, the doctor will look for abnormal lumps and nodules in the head, neck, and jaw.
During the physical examination, you might notice signs of pain and discomfort. Following the discovery of abnormal tissue, they will schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor any changes in the abnormal location.
After that, they perform a biopsy and send a sample for histological analysis. The histological examination will determine the definitive diagnosis of the malignant condition.
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