Pathology Specialist

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screenings are imperative for early detection of this disease. Only a dental professional, by thoroughly examining the oral cavity as a whole and portions of the neck, can diagnose this disease definitively. The death rate associated with oral cancer is just under 50%. If diagnosed early, the survival rate can be 80% or higher.

The risk factors for oral cancer include alcohol consumption, tobacco use and/or persistent viral infections (HPV). It is also more common among men.

The symptoms of oral cancer can be one or more of the following:

• A sore or lesion in the mouth that does not heal in 2 weeks
• A lump or thickening in the cheek
• A white or red patch inside the mouth, gums, tongue or tonsils
• A sore throat or feeling there is something caught in the throat
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
• Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly
• Chronic hoarseness

Examples of What Oral Cancer Might Look Like

These are some examples of tissue pathologies that were noted during examination of our patients. Each time we see you in our office, we complete a thorough evaluation of our teeth, bone, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. We are the first line of defense in identifying oral cancer which includes cancer of the mouth and pharynx (back of the throat.) Oral cancer accounts for 2% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. Approximately 35,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer each year and about 7,600 will die from the disease on average. On average, 60% of those with the disease will survive more than 5 years. Oral cancer most often occurs in people over the age of 40 and affects more than twice as many men as women.

If you have questions about Oral Cancer Screenings or any other service we provide at Magi Crofcheck, DDS, PA, Periodontics & Implantology, please call our office. We look forward to hearing from you.