Oral Cancer Screening

Early detection and treatment of oral cancer require regular testing. Dentists examine the mouth for abnormalities, lesions, and suspicious regions during checkups.

Visual and palpatory examination of the mouth, lips, tongue, gums, and throat is performed. Dentists check oral tissues for cancer-related changes in colour, texture, or size.

Early detection greatly improves treatment outcomes. Not all anomalies are malignant, but early detection allows for additional investigation or biopsy.

Tobacco smokers and oral cancer survivors may need more frequent screenings. Regular dental screenings and proper oral hygiene improve oral health.”

Why Have Regular Oral Cancer Screenings?

Regular oral cancer screenings are important for many reasons:

Early Detection: Early oral cancer detection improves therapy and survival.

Risk Assessment: Screening identifies risk factors like tobacco use, excessive alcohol usage, and oral cancer to prioritise prevention.

Regular screenings allow dentists to see any abnormal oral changes or lesions and recommend further assessment or treatment.

Smokers, heavy drinkers, and individuals with a family history of oral cancer benefit from more frequent screenings due to their greater susceptibility.

Early identification improves prognosis by making therapy more bearable and increasing success rates.

“Early detection may make oral cancer easier to treat when the chances for remission are higher.”

Groups at High Risk for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer high-risk groups:

For smokers: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco increase mouth cancer risk.

Chronic alcohol consumption, especially with tobacco, increases oral cancer risk.

In particular, HPV-16 raises oral cancer risk.

Dental cancer rates rise with age, especially after 45.

Dental cancer is more common in men.

Bad Dental Hygiene: Delaying treatments increases risk.

Sunlight increases lip cancer risk, especially in fair-skinned people.

A history of oral cancer raises risk.

“Some groups may benefit from regular oral cancer screenings more than others.”

Limitations of Oral Cancer Screenings

Although oral cancer tests are useful for early detection, they have limitations:

Screenings can detect worrisome lesions or anomalies, but they cannot diagnose oral cancer. Confirmation often requires biopsies.

Screenings may detect benign lesions or non-cancerous disorders, causing worry or additional intrusive procedures.

False Negatives: Screenings may miss certain malignant or precancerous tumours.

Screenings focus on obvious mouth and throat areas, missing hidden or deeper tissue abnormalities.

A screening’s accuracy depends on the examiner’s experience and skill in recognising abnormal oral tissues.

Despite these drawbacks, regular screenings can discover oral cancer early and encourage further inquiry. They are essential for comprehensive oral healthcare, especially for high-risk patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do oral cancer screenings hurt?

A. There is little to no discomfort involved with oral cancer screenings. However, this may not be the case in treating advanced oral cancer.

Q. What are the warning signs of oral cancer?

A. In addition to possessing certain risk factors, patients should see a dentist immediately if they notice the following:

Changes in denture fit
Difficulty or discomfort swallowing
Diminished ability to perform normal oral functions (such as chewing, opening jaw, swallowing)
Mouth sores or ulcers, especially if they bleed easily or do not heal
Pain and tenderness in teeth or gums
Red or white patches in the mouth
Unexplained lump in the neck, throat, or floor of the mouth
Unexplained swelling or fullness in the neck
Visible changes in the mouth tissue

Q. Which parts of the body can be affected by oral cancer?

A. Any part of the mouth can be affected by oral cancer. There are two categories of oral cancer: those that affect the oral cavity (lips, teeth, gums, front two-thirds of the tongue, floor and roof of the mouth, and inside of the lips and cheeks) and those that affect the oropharynx (middle region of the throat, including tonsils and the base of the tongue).

Q. How can I decrease my chances of getting oral cancer?

A. As of yet, there are no proven ways of completely preventing oral cancer. However, a general healthful lifestyle may help minimize your chances. Reducing your alcohol consumption, along with stopping or avoiding any tobacco use, may prevent exposing the cells in the mouth to any dangerous chemicals. Keeping an everyday sun protection regimen that involves putting sunscreen on your lips can also help, as can regular dental checkups.

Q. What are the stages of oral cancer?

A. There are four stages of oral cancer. In stage 1 oral cancer, the tumor is at or under 2 centimeters in size, and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes. In stage 2 oral cancer, the tumor is at or under 4 centimeters in size, and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes. In stage 3 oral cancer, the tumor could be larger than 4 centimeters but not spread to the lymph nodes. Alternatively, the tumor has spread to one lymph node but not any other parts of the body. In stage 4 oral cancer, the tumor can be any size, and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Oral cancer screenings can catch “stage 0” cancer when cells have yet to become cancerous. Cancers caught in the earliest stages have the highest five-year survival rates.

Dental Terminology

Biopsy

A biopsy is a medical test that a medical professional uses to extract a sample of tissue to determine the exact cause of a disease.

Dental Checkup

A dental checkup is an appointment that involves cleaning the teeth, identifying any signs of infection and removing said signs of infection at least once every six months in the office.

Dental Prophylaxis

A dental prophylaxis is a thorough cleaning procedure that involves preventing the spread or continued growth of periodontal disease and gingivitis.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is the difficulty or discomfort that one can experience when swallowing due to this disease.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the inflammation of gum tissue that results from plaque, other infections in the mouth and poor oral hygiene.

Oral Cavity

The term oral cavity is another name for the mouth, including the lips, cheeks, gums, teeth, the front of the tongue and the roof of the mouth.

Oral Mucosa

The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the mouth consisting of oral epithelium and lamina propria.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a common form of oral cancer that occurs within the mouth, which can also result from excessive smoking and alcohol use.

Precancerous Lesions

Precancerous lesions are morphologically altered tissue that has a high probability of causing oral cancer to occur in those specific spots.

Tartar

Learn More Today

Regular oral cancer screenings may help stop the disease before it has the chance to spread. At Affinity Family Dentists, we can help figure out the best preventative care plan for you.

Helpful Related Links

American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2023
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2023
WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2023

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