Oral Cancer Screenings in Palm Harbor, FL

Oral cancer, or mouth cancer, can cause numerous complications if not caught and treated in a timely fashion. Some key issues arising from oral cancer include tooth loss, a change in the appearance of your mouth, speech and swallowing difficulties, and psychosocial challenges.

Oral cancer screenings in Palm Harbor, FL are a crucial component of preventive dentistry. If you score highly on oral cancer risk factors, you should be particularly vigilant about scheduling regular oral cancer screenings. Our dentist in Palm Harbor, FL recommends getting screened for cancer annually if you’re above 40 years and every three years if you’re aged between 20 and 40. However, our dentist may propose more frequent screenings based on your unique dental health needs.

Palm Harbor Smiles offers oral cancer screenings for patients of all ages.

Causes and Symptoms of Oral Cancer

As is the case with other cancers, mouth cancer is caused by abnormal cell mutation. This abnormal growth may be triggered by various factors, including excessive alcohol use, excessive exposure to the sun, exposure to the human papillomavirus, a weakened immune system, and excessive tobacco consumption.

Common symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Persistent lip and mouth sores
• White or red patches inside your mouth
• Lumps and swelling
• Mouth pain
• Ear pain
• Difficulty when swallowing
• Unexplained bleeding

Oral Cancer Screening Process

Oral cancer screenings near you focus on identifying any signs indicative of oral cancer. For this process, our dentist combines various approaches, including visual inspection and tactile assessment. We also use dental imaging and may further employ a special dye that highlights anomalies in tissue. Our dentist near you tailors each screening session to suit the unique preferences and needs of the patient.

It should be noted that oral cancer screenings aren’t diagnostic. If our dentist detects any abnormalities, the next step involves ordering a biopsy. Only after a biopsy can we be sure about the presence or absence of cancerous cells.

If you’re found to have oral cancer, our dentist collaborates with various other health specialists to get you the care you require. Oral cancer is treatable through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy.

Are you looking for a conveniently located, family-friendly dental practice that provides oral cancer screenings in Palm Harbor, FL? Call Palm Harbor Smiles now to speak to book an appointment with our dentist.