You come to us for your regular checkup, and somewhere between the cleaning and the exam, we do something you might not even notice. We screen you for oral cancer. It’s quick. It’s painless. And it could save your life.
Here’s what happens during that oral cancer screening and why it matters so much.
What We’re Looking For
Oral cancer isn’t as well-known as some other cancers, but it’s just as serious. The American Cancer Society estimates that tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with it each year. The good news is that when it’s caught early, the survival rate is significantly higher.
We’re checking for any abnormalities in your mouth, throat, and surrounding tissues. That includes your lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the floor of your mouth under your tongue. Specifically, we’re looking for:
- Red or white patches that don’t belong
- Sores that haven’t healed within two weeks
- Lumps or thickening of tissue
- Rough spots or crusty areas
- Numbness or pain in any area
Some of these changes are harmless. But we can’t tell that just by looking. That’s why we examine carefully and keep track of what’s normal for you.
How the Screening Works
The screening itself is simple and takes only a minute or two during your regular exam.
We start by looking at your face and neck from the outside. We check for any asymmetry, swelling, or changes in the skin. Then we feel along your jaw, under your chin, and down your neck to check for any lumps or enlarged lymph nodes.
Next, we examine the inside of your mouth. We use a small mirror and a light to look at every surface. We’ll ask you to stick out your tongue and move it from side to side so we can see the sides and underside. We’ll also check the roof of your mouth and the floor of your mouth under your tongue.
Some of these areas are easy to see. Others require us to look carefully and sometimes gently press on certain spots to feel for anything unusual.
Why We Do It Every Time
Oral cancer doesn’t always announce itself with obvious symptoms. In its early stages, it can look like a minor irritation that you might ignore. That’s why we don’t skip this step.
We do this screening at every checkup, even if you have no symptoms and no risk factors. Some people who develop oral cancer have no known risk factors at all. And because the screening is so simple and quick, there’s no reason not to do it.
Risk Factors to Be Aware Of
While anyone can develop oral cancer, certain factors increase your risk. Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco, is the biggest risk factor. Heavy alcohol use also raises your risk significantly, especially when combined with tobacco.
HPV, a common virus, is now a leading cause of some types of oral cancer. Sun exposure can increase your risk for lip cancer. And a history of oral cancer or certain genetic conditions can also play a role.
We don’t ask about these things to judge you. We ask so we can tailor our screening and give you the most useful guidance.
What Happens If We Find Something
Most of the time, we don’t find anything concerning. But if we do see something unusual, we don’t panic and we don’t want you to panic.
We might recommend watching the area for a couple of weeks to see if it resolves on its own. We might take a photo to compare at your next visit. Or we might recommend a biopsy, which is the only way to know for certain what’s going on.
A biopsy is a simple procedure where we take a tiny sample of tissue and send it to a lab for analysis. It sounds scarier than it is, and it’s the best way to get a clear answer.
Peace of Mind
We do oral cancer screenings because we care about your overall health, not just your teeth. It’s part of what we consider complete care.
So next time you’re in our chair, know that the little extra look we take is one of the most important things we do. It takes less than two minutes. But it might make all the difference.
Our team at AH Smiles serves patients from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Deerfield, and Northbrook. If you’re due for a checkup, give us a call.