Along with a traditional dental exam to protect your smile, our team can also offer an oral cancer screening. With this, we have a way to identify a serious concern in the early stages and boost your chances of a recovery. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about helping smiles with a regular oral cancer screening.
The Causes and Warning Signs of Oral Cancer
How does the disease develop? There are risk factors that could increase the chances of the disease developing, such as excessive exposure to UV light without proper protection, or excessive alcohol consumption. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, this could also increase the risk of disease. That said, this could also develop in the smiles of people who don’t have these risk factors, so you need to schedule a visit for a routine oral cancer screening every year regardless!
The Importance of a Screening
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, over 50,000 people will be diagnosed with the issue this year alone. Of that number, half will succumb to the disease in just five years. At the same time, the issue is very treatable, but the high mortality rate is because in many cases, this is not caught in the early stages. Which is why a screening every year is needed so you have a higher likelihood of catching it early, so you can obtain a biopsy and if necessary, undergo treatment to recover!
The screening process involves taking a close look at your smile with advanced technology, looking for signs of cancerous or precancerous tissues. If we find any, we can order a biopsy and if this indicates disease, you can start treatment with a specialist. Be sure you are aware of possible warning signs, just as pain in the face or jaw. Persistent hoarseness, sore throat, or changes in your voice could be a factor, as could areas of red and white splotches in your mouth, or rough patches or lesions that don’t heal after two weeks.
Easing Your Overall Risk
To help lower your risk, be sure you wear sun protection when you are outdoors for prolonged periods, and drink alcohol in moderation. Avoid tobacco products completely if possible! If you have any questions about how we protect smiles with an exam, or if you want to schedule your checkup and oral cancer screening today, then reach out to our office today to get started and protect your smile in 2026 and beyond!
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. for a Dental Exam
Our team wants to help you enjoy better oral health and avoid serious concerns with regular screenings! To find out more about our detailed screenings, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
