Oral Cancer Screening

Oral Cancer Screening

Hearing the word cancer can invoke a significant amount of fear and anxiety. Cancer is a devastating disease that can strike almost anywhere in the body. For example, oral cancer is the largest group of head and neck cancers that can start anywhere in your mouth. This type of cancer affects over 40,000 Americans every single year. It can be fatal if it is not detected and treated in the early stages.

However, signs and symptoms of the early stages of oral cancer can be challenging to detect. At Denthetics, LLC, we are trained to detect the earliest symptoms and perform oral cancer screenings at every dental exam. Schedule regular dental exam and teeth cleaning appointments with Dr. Felicia Mata-Stein to maintain and improve your overall dental health.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can affect just about anyone. However, certain controllable and uncontrollable factors can increase your risk. Risk factors for oral cancer include:

• Family history of oral cancer ~ Your risk is much greater if you have a close blood relative who has also had oral cancer.
• Certain strains of HPV ~ There are numerous strains of the human papillomavirus or HPV. Studies link a handful of these strains to oral cancer, with HPV16 having the strongest link.
• Lifestyle habits ~ Smoking increases the risks of developing oral cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption can also play a substantial role.
• Age ~ Older adults are at a higher risk than younger individuals. Additionally, men are more likely to develop oral cancer than women. Men over the age of 55 have the highest risk.

Symptoms Of Oral Cancer

The earliest oral cancer symptoms are often hard to detect. For this reason, regular dental exams are crucial. We are experienced in detecting the earliest oral cancer symptoms, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment. The earlier you get treatment, the greater your likelihood of fully recovering. During your dental exams, our Kenosha dental team checks your mouth for signs of any abnormalities.

Oral Cancer symptoms include:

• Sores that do not heal, even though they have been present for longer than two weeks.
• Red or white patches on your intra oral tissues.
• Unusual growths.
• Changes in your bite.
• Numbness in your chin or jaw.
• You find it difficult to chew, speak, or swallow.

How is it Diagnosed?

Your regular dental exams are only one part of diagnosing oral cancer. If we find anything suspicious during your routine exam, we then recommend you for a closer examination. During this dental exam, we focus on the abnormality we have seen, looking it over carefully. Our advanced trained dentist, Dr. Mata- Stein, may also take digital X-rays or a CT scan.

Diagnosing oral cancer in Kenosha or Loop, Chicago, also often involves a soft tissue biopsy. A soft tissue biopsy is a procedure that requires us to take a small sample of tissue from the abnormality so that we can examine the cells underneath a microscope. We can determine the presence of cancerous and precancerous cells with a soft tissue biopsy. If we find these cells present, we can help you get the treatment you need immediately.

Oral cancer screenings are performed at every dental exam. To detect the presence of oral cancer and any other oral health issues in the earliest stages and receive prompt treatment, it is essential that you have your mouth examined every six months.

Schedule An Oral Cancer Screening Today!

Call Denthetics, LLC at 262-484-4102 to schedule an oral cancer screenings with our dentist, Dr. Felicia Mata-Stein in Kenosha. With over 25 years of experience in family and general dentistry, Dr. Mata-Stein is happy to perform oral cancer screenings for patients from Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Sturtevant, WI and many surrounding areas.