Does Your Dental Care in Seattle Include Oral Cancer Screenings?
All the Patients Of Our Dental Center in Seattle at ACLD Get Them At Every Exam.
You frequently hear about people contracting oral cancers due to tobacco use. And it’s true; chewing tobacco of any kind can frequently lead to the formation of oral cancers.
However, it’s not the only cause. What is making oral cancer so insidious is its connection to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer in women. More and more oral cancers are appearing in the back of the throat, near the area of the tonsils (or where they used to be). It’s important to know that everyone is at risk of contracting oral cancer, so periodic checks are now a part of every checkup routine at ACLD. All dental care at any dental center in Seattle should include an oral cancer screening.
The risk factors for oral cancer include:
- Tobacco use
- Alcohol abuse
- Habitual biting of the cheeks or lips
- Poorly-fitting dentures
- 5 or more sexual partners
Dr. McKay has the skills and tools to ensure that early conditions are identified. It is now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early with the Velscope, the first device that allows us to see cancer developing before the naked eye can.
Approximately 37,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. Oral cancer claims almost as many lives as melanoma and kills more people nationwide than either skin cancer or cervical cancer.
That’s why it is very important to have regular oral cancer screenings included in your care at a dental center in Seattle. When you come in for a checkup, Dr. McKay will examine cancer-vulnerable spots such as the base of your tongue, or the insides of your cheeks, looking for flat, painless white or red spots or small sores.
Call ACLD right away if you discover:
- A sore in your mouth that does not heal or bleeds easily
- A growth of a lump, a bump, or a thickening in your oral tissue
- A small eroded area or a crust in your mouth
- A change in the color of your gums or the insides of your cheek
- An unexplained swelling in the bone
- Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth
Remember to have regular check ups – they’re the best way to keep oral cancers in check.
Call us today to schedule an exam that includes a comprehensive oral cancer screening.
