You know that it’s important for you to visit your dentist every six months if you’d like to keep your teeth healthy and strong—but do you know what actually happens during these treatments? Typically, we’ll clean your teeth thoroughly and inspect your pearly whites for signs of trouble—such as oral cancer. This cancer screening is very important, but do you know what it actually entails?
Nearly 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, but treatment tends to be far more successful if the disease is recognized early. As such, our dentist will also ask you a few questions during your oral cancer screening. Generally, you’ll be asked about how often you smoke or drink, since both of these practices can leave you more vulnerable to oral cancer.
Our team will look for white or red areas in your mouth or for unusual sores. We’ll also inspect your face and tongue for unusual bumps. Afterwards, we’ll examine your mouth, neck, and jaw. While this may seem unnecessary, our team can recognize bumps and abnormalities that can’t be found by touch alone. We may also feel inside your mouth, including your cheeks, and inspect your lymph nodes, lips, and the hinges of your jaw.
Are you interested in learning more about how we can recognize and address oral cancer? Do you have more questions about how we can help you improve the health of your teeth? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact Sharon Sims by giving us a call at 318-631-1100. We’ll be happy to inspect your mouth and offer you personalized advice. We look forward to meeting with you.