All you need to know about mouth cancer screening in Loughton
Oral cancer is a condition that can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks, sinuses, and throat. While oral cancers can be life-threatening, early detection and early treatment can help minimise the risk. A regular mouth cancer screening by your dentist, every six months, is the best way to detect cancer during its earliest stages. Mouth cancer screening tests are quick, painless, and can be performed during regular dental check-ups and cleanings.
At Forest Dental in Loughton, we believe that prevention is better than cure and for this reason, we urge our patients to visit the dental practice at least twice a year for regular cleanings, examinations and mouth cancer screenings.
Mouth cancer risk is affected by many factors in your life. Men are more susceptible to mouth cancer than women. Other patients at risk of mouth cancer include people over the age of 60, smokers and heavy drinkers. However, mouth cancer can also develop in individuals who don’t smoke or drink heavily. For this reason, it is really important to receive a mouth cancer screening in Loughton at least once a year.
What is involved?
The mouth cancer screening is a simple and painless process. Your dentist will examine your mouth and throat and look for abnormalities such as red patches, ulcers, sores, unusual bumps or lumps. During this process, they will touch and inspect the lymph nodes in your neck and jaw, examine the inside and outside of your lips, your cheeks and floor of mouth as well as your jaw joint and the area around your ears. We also have specialised tools to look below the surface for abnormal signs and lesions that would be invisible to the naked eye.
If we find that your symptoms may be related to mouth cancer, we will implement a thorough treatment plan. We may also need to perform a biopsy in order to identify the precise stage and grade of the oral lesion. Treatment methods vary according to the precise diagnosis, but may include radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Contact us
If you have any questions or concerns about oral cancer, please contact our friendly team at Forest Dental.