When and How to Get Oral Cancer Screening Done
Perhaps you wonder when your dentist said that you have risk factors for developing oral cancer and should consult a dentist about them. In such a scenario, the procedure a dentist performs is called "oral cancer screening”. Now you may want to ask,’ what is this procedure and how can this be done?
Oral cancer screening should be done before the symptoms begin to show. Early detection of oral cancer can increase the chances of successful treatment. Oral cancer screenings at regular intervals can reduce the risk significantly. That is why many dentists recommend screenings every three years for people over 20 and annual screenings for those over 40.
How do I get an oral cancer screening done?
Did you know that you can get your screenings done in less than two minutes? The screening exam consists of looking for signs of oral cancer in your mouth. The different areas in your mouth include your cheek lining, gums, lips, the floor of the mouth, tongue, and tonsils, which require your dentist's attention.
Your dentist will use a light, mouth mirror, and tongue depressor to look for any abnormalities such as swellings, nodules, changes in color, patches, or ulceration. Aside from this, your dentist will also palpate the jaw, chin, and neck and its surrounding area to feel for any unusual masses or nodules.
The dentist may perform some tests if they find any abnormal masses or lesions in your mouth. Below, we have mentioned some of these evaluation tests that include:
Toluidine blue dye: Your dentist will use a special dye, toluidine blue over the suspected area which will turn blue if any abnormal tissues are found.
Laser light: Laser light treats abnormal tissues differently than it does normal tissues.
Mouth rinse with a solution: Rinsing your mouth with the acetic acid solution can help evaluate abnormal tissues and masses.
Dentists also recommend regular self-examination of your mouth (oral cavity) and reporting any changes like white patches, sores, or abnormal masses or lumps to their dentist as soon as they notice.
Biopsy: A tissue sample is required for a biopsy which must be conducted before the treatment begins. To confirm the diagnosis of oral cancer, the following are the biopsies typically used.
-Incisional Biopsy: A piece of small tissue is cut from the abnormally looking suspicious area. If the target area is easily accessed, your dentist will collect the tissue sample at the dental office itself. However, if the area is deep inside your mouth or throat, the dentist might need an operating room for performing a biopsy.
-Exfoliative Cytology: The gentle scraping from the suspicious area will collect cell samples. Later these cells are placed on a glass slide and stained with dye. These cells can be easily viewed under a microscope.
Imaging tests: Various imaging tests like CT scans, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and PET scans are done to get thorough information about the shape, size, type, and location of tumors or lesions that may contain cancer cells. These will also help to detect whether or not cancer has spread to other areas of your body.
When should I get an oral cancer screening?
As per our experienced dentist, Dr. Bajaj, there are certain factors that can increase the risk of developing oral cancer, which include:
Tobacco use: The habit of smoking or chewing tobacco increases the risk of oral cancer by several times.
Alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing oral cancer. A heavy drinker experiences a 5 fold increased risk of oral cancer in comparison to non-drinkers.
Sun exposure: Prolonged sun exposure can increase the risk of oral cancer, especially in the lip region.
Age: The risk of oral cancer increases with age, especially with age over 40.
Family history: A positive family history can put you at a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
In conclusion, aside from regular dental care, oral cancer screenings are an important part of maintaining oral health. By getting an oral cancer screening done regularly, you can detect the signs of oral cancer at an early stage and improve your chances of recovery. If you are prone to any of the above risk factors for oral cancer, it is essential that you can get your oral screening done frequently. Our dentists at Royal East Dental, Dundas are fully trained and skilled at performing oral cancer screening. This means they know exactly what to look for. To get your oral cancer screening done consult our dentists in Dundas today.