At Jordan Landing Smiles in West Jordan, we look for signs of oral cancer during every checkup. It doesn’t take long, but it’s extremely important.
Oral cancer refers to cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat. Oral cancer is a serious matter: The American Cancer Society estimates that over 39,000 people will get oral cancer this year.
Consider this sobering news from the Oral Cancer Foundation:
“The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).”
When we perform an oral cancer screening we look for red or white spots, bleeding, lumps, difficulty swallowing, loose teeth, any color changes, and mouth sores. Is is critical to tell us if your bite has changed, if you have sores that won’t heal, and prolonged hoarseness.
The existence of any of these symptoms does not mean you have oral cancer, as they can be caused by any number of other conditions. However, if your dentist does discover something unusual, he/she may order additional tests or refer you to a medical doctor for further diagnosis and treatment if necessary.
At West Jordan Dental Office, we want the best possible health for all of our patients: not just dental health, but overall health. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry. Call us to schedule a checkup today!