Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer accounts for 3.6% of all cancers diagnosed, there are about 30,000 new cases reported in the Unites States every year. It is the sixth most common cancer reported. The most frequent sites are the base of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and the soft palate.

Oral cancer accounts for about 9000 deaths per year. Because oral cancer is not usually diagnosed in the early stages, it has the worst five year survival rate. Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it has a high risk of producing second, primary tumors. This means that patients, who survive a first encounter with the disease, have up to a 20 times higher risk of developing a second cancer.

Early detection is the key in survival of this disease. When we do our oral cancer screening we are looking for any lesions or color changes in and around the mouth. A dentist should immediately evaluate red, white, or blue discolorations, patches or lumps that are painless and grow rapidly, or any sudden growth or swelling in the jaw region.

Sometimes X-rays are needed to determine if there is a bone lesion. Tobacco is a risk factor, when tobacco is used in conjunction with alcohol, the risk of oral cancer increases fifteen times more than non users.