According to research conducted by the American Cancer Society, more than 30,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. More than 7,000 of these cases result in the death of the patient. The good news is that oral cancer can easily be diagnosed with an annual oral cancer exam, and effectively treated when caught in its earliest stages.
Oral cancer is a progressive process and at the beginning typical cancer signs may not be readily noticeable. This makes the oral cancer examination performed by the dentist critically important. There are various types of oral cancer and they originate in different places in the oral cavity.
Oral cancer exams, diagnosis and treatment
The oral cancer examination is a completely painless process. During the visual part of the examination, the dentist will look for any abnormalities and feel the face, glands and neck for unusual bumps. If abnormalities are present, Dr. Mulligan will likely refer you to an oral surgeon who will take a biopsy and begin a treatment plan. Surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy are all used to treat oral cancer.
A dedicated comprehensive oral cancer screening is performed once a year in our office but can be more frequent if deemed appropriate..
If you have any questions or concerns about oral cancer, please contact our practice.