Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is common for people who smoke and consume alcohol. Patients unfortunately continue to present with late-stage disease. Oral cancer screenings are intended to discover oral cancer at the initial stage so that the essential treatment can be started immediately. At Apollo Dental, we perform a thorough evaluation which includes analyzing changes in the medical history and development of new or unusual symptoms.
Dr. Ishita Seth and her staff will check your oral cavity, lips, cheek lining epithelium, gums, front and back of your tongue; floor and roof of the mouth including tonsils, jaw and neck for any lumps or abnormalities. Early detection of potentially malignant oral lesions can improve clinical outcomes and quality of life.
There are various technologies available to aid in early oral cancer diagnosis. We proudly utilize a technology called Goccles in our dental office to screen for oral cancer and precancerous lesions. Goccles is a special eyewear equipped with innovative optical filters used in conjunction with a curing light. It is a non-invasive, painless technique that allows rapid screening in 1-2 minutes. The special optical filter allows the dentist to visualize abnormalities. The tissue auto-fluorescence achieved contributes to the detection of the margins of precancerous and cancerous lesions. Goccles was awarded as the winner of the 2019 Edison Best New Product Silver Award.
During the screening doctor looks inside your mouth to check for red or white patches or mouth sores.
Warning and symptoms of oral cancer
- Difficulty in chewing and swallowing.
- An unexpected weight loss.
- White or red patches in the mouth
- An ulcer that does not heal or bleeds.
Oral cancer can only be diagnosed with a biopsy, for this a sample of tissue from the infected area is removed and examined under a microscope. A dentist can identify a suspicious area in your mouth.
The very most common location for cancer are the tongue, tonsils, gums, and floor of the mouth.
A blood test can not diagnose cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx.
These are the signs of oral cancer:
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
- A lump or sore area in the mouth, throat, or lips.
- A white or red patch in the mouth.
- Difficulty moving the tongueor jaw.
- Unexpected weight loss.
- A sore or ulcer that does not heal or bleeds
The process of X-ray your entire mouth can show whether cancer has spread to the jaws or not.
There are would be pain and a burning sensation while chewing food. You may also feel difficulty in swallowing because of the narrowing of the food pipe.
This may appear differently and also depends upon the location. Oral cancer may present rough patches, white, or red tissue.
If you have an n ulcerating tumor then it may have an unpleasant odor.
This will be like a lump or a white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth.