Lifestyle factors like smoking and chewing tobacco can increase the risks of developing oral cancer. Even if you've quit smoking years ago, it is still important that annual screenings be done. The screening itself takes just minutes and can be helpful in preventing future oral health problems. Even if you're not a smoker or use other types of tobacco, we recommend having a screening done regularly.

If you're a smoker or use other tobacco-related products, we recommend coming in for routine screenings. If cancer runs in your family, it's important to consider coming in to get checked. Most adults are good candidates for these screenings. The benefits of having a screening done far outweigh the few minutes it takes to have it performed in our office.

Your dentist will perform an examination visually scanning your tongue and the insides and outside of your mouth looking for unusual lesions, bumps and plaque-like film that could be a sign of oral cancer. If anything unusual is detected, we will refer you for a biopsy to find out if the area is benign or cancerous. Keep in mind that the majority of cancer screenings come out negative, but it is still important to have them done so that we can catch any problems early.

If you think you would benefit from an Oral Cancer Screening and want to learn more, call the office today so that one of our staff members can further assist you.