Early detection of any malignancies is an imperative part of complete recovery. Oral cancer has a 50 to 80 percent survival rate if you are diagnosed when it’s just beginning. Your dentist will check your mouth for suspicious spots, ulcers, or lesions at your six month checkups. Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, explains the importance of oral cancer screenings and what they entail.
Identifying Oral Cancer Signs
You are bound to have bumps, canker sores, cuts, and unusual spots in your mouth at various times throughout your life. Don’t panic that every suspicious spot means cancer. Usually, the sore will be benign. Still, mouth lesions are one common way for your dentist to identify early cancer. If a bump persists, is particularly sore, seems to heal but then comes back, or looks unusual compared to anything you’ve ever experienced, you should call your Celina dentist and describe your symptoms. Dr. Newton will take a conservative approach in deciding when you should come in to see her.
Examination with a VELscope Tool
Bi-annual checkups are the time for your dentist to take stock of the health of your mouth. Dr. Newton will do a visual examination every time, but there are also helpful instruments to detect oral and pharyngeal cancer early. A VELscope tool scans your mouth with a blue-spectrum light. This will turn soft tissues visually fluorescent. The patterns that appear under the light will tell the story of whether or not you have any abnormal mouth tissues. VELscopes are safe, fast, and comfortable. The entire VELscope examination will be over in two minutes.
Oral Cancer Concerns? Contact Your Celina Dentist
If you are due for a bi-annual checkup, or have questions about our restorative, cosmetic, and preventive dentistry services, contact your Celina dentist at our 75009 dentist office by calling (214) 851-0130. Located in the 75009 area, we serve patients of all ages from Celina, Prosper, McKinney, Frisco, Anna, Pilot Point, and the surrounding areas.
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