Oral Cancer Screenings in San Antonio, TX
Oral cancer can be risky if left undiagnosed. Nearly half a million people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. Adopt a healthy lifestyle, avoid smoking and excessive drinking and get regular oral cancer screenings at a dentist near you.
Visit Your Dentist at Terrell Hills Dental for Oral Cancer Screening
Dentists have the tools and know-how to detect early signs of cancer and they can guide you about subsequent testing and diagnosis. Timely detection of cancerous and precancerous symptoms can increase the chances of successful treatment and cure.
More Information about Oral Cancer
In addition to tongue and lip cancer, many head and neck cancers also originate in the oral cavity. Although patients who smoke and consume alcohol are at higher risk, we strongly advise all patients to schedule oral cancer screening during their dental checkups.
The dentist will be able to detect signs of oral cancer, but they cannot diagnose it. Patients will receive a full diagnosis only after a lab performs a biopsy on the sample tissue.
What Does Your Dentist Look Out for?
We look for whitish or reddish patches and lesions as well as small sores that do not seem to heal. Our team manually checks your face and neck for lumps, bumps and other abnormalities. The dentist at Terrell Hills Dental will also use the latest diagnostic tools like VELscope®, to detect abnormal tissues in the mouth. The VELscope® helps highlight hidden lesions and cancerous tissue that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Oral cancers can show up anywhere in the mouth, including the tongue, lips, inside of your cheeks, floor, or roof of the oral cavity. Other signs of oral cancer could include soreness, numbness, or pain when you bite down. Your teeth may no longer fit together as they used to. However, your bite could change due to several other reasons as well.
Our dentist in San Antonio, TX is the best person to determine if you are at risk of oral cancer. Since successful treatment depends on early diagnosis, it’s essential to get regular oral cancer screenings near you.