Oral Cancer Screenings in Wellesley, MA
An oral cancer screening is usually performed by a dentist or doctor to identify cancerous or precancerous signs. The main goal of the oral cancer screening is to spot early signs of oral cancer to ensure higher recovery chances. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment increase the chances of a successful cure.
Why Is Oral Cancer Screening Important?
Most dentists will examine your oral cavity for early signs of cancer during routine exams, but others may conduct additional tests if they identify signs of abnormal growths or bumps. Oral cancers can include cancers of the tongue, lips, cheek, and hard palate and be life-threatening unless diagnosed early.
If you are at a higher risk, you may want to discuss oral cancer screenings with our dentist in Wellesley, MA. Timely detection of lesions and growths can help in early removal when oral cancer is much more treatable.
Heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, tobacco use, and previous cancer diagnosis may put you at a higher risk of oral cancer. Other patients who do not smoke or drink only occasionally may also develop oral cancer. Please free to consult our expert team at Wellesley Dental Arts for oral cancer screening near you.
What Are the Signs of Oral Cancer?
One or more of the following abnormalities may indicate oral cancers:
- Lumps, bumps, swellings, crusty or rough areas in the mouth
- The appearance of red, white or speckled spots in the mouth
- Unexplained numbness, bleeding or pain
- Chronic sore throats or persistent sores that do not heal
- Difficulties in chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue
If the dentist identifies any of the signs described above, our team may refer you for a biopsy or further testing. This will help treat the cancer before it has a chance to spread. Even if you conduct regular self-exams, suspicious spots or sores may be difficult to identify.
We recommend annual oral cancer screenings for patients above the age of 40 as the risk increases with age. For more information on oral cancer screening in Wellesley, MA, contact one of our Wellesley Dental Arts offices for a detailed consultation.