How an oral cancer screening from your dentists in Joliet, IL can protect you.
An oral cancer screening is one of the most effective ways to prevent oral cancer. Oral cancer is a serious disease with very serious consequences. It can be disfiguring, requiring surgery to remove cancerous tissue, and it can even be fatal if you don’t catch it early. An oral cancer screening can protect you; it’s also a very easy, painless procedure, available from your dentist.
Dr. Lanette Disera and Dr. Christine Dunham in Joliet, IL offer a wide range of preventive dental care services, including oral cancer screenings, to help you prevent oral cancer.
Two of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer are using tobacco products (including both smoking and chewing smokeless tobacco) and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. If you are at high risk for oral cancer, it’s even more important for you to get an oral cancer screening.
So, who needs an oral cancer screening? The truth is, everyone can benefit from an oral cancer screening because early diagnosis is critical to survival. When oral cancer is diagnosed early, it helps prevent cancer from metastasizing (spreading) to other parts of your body.
You might be the first person to notice a suspicious area in or around your mouth. By doing self-checks regularly, you can help find oral cancer early. Remember to check your lips, the lining of your cheeks, and the roof of your mouth. The tongue is also a common area for oral cancer.
When you do the self-check, you need to look for:
- Red or white patches of tissue
- Wrinkled or scaly areas of tissue
- Lesions or open sores that don’t heal
Also, pay attention if you notice symptoms like these:
- Swollen or painful lymph nodes in your neck or underneath your jaw
- Numbness or tenderness around your lips
- Painful swallowing, speaking or chewing
- Chronic hoarseness or a sore throat
- Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw
Visiting your dentist at least once each year is a great way to ensure you receive an oral cancer screening regularly. Oral cancer screening is an important part of your initial and regular dental examinations. Your dentist is an expert at noticing questionable, potentially abnormal areas of tissue and will know just what to do to protect you from oral cancer.
To find out more about an oral cancer screening and how it can help you, call Dr. Lanette Disera and Dr. Christine Dunham in Joliet, IL at (815) 744-4333. Call today.