Oral Cancer Screening – What You Should Know
At Profident, we recommend a comprehensive oral cancer screening once a year as part of your routine dental check-up. The goal is prevention and early detection – because early diagnosis offers the best chance of a full recovery.
Most lesions found in the mouth are benign and harmless – such as aphthae (mouth ulcers), leukoplakia, fibroma, fungal infections, papillomas, or small vascular malformations. When detected early, these conditions are easily managed and treated.
It’s also important to note that systemic diseases, as well as vitamin or mineral deficiencies, often show their first symptoms in the mouth – making regular check-ups an essential part of general health care.
Oral cancers most often develop as a result of unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, or inadequate oral hygiene.
Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.
Warning Signs to Look Out For
If you experience any of the following symptoms and they do not go away within two weeks, make sure to see a dentist or doctor immediately.
- Painless sores or ulcers that do not heal
- Swelling or lump in the jaw or neck area
- White, yellowish, or red patches on the tongue, gums, or oral mucosa
- Persistent dry mouth
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing, or a sensation of something “stuck” in the throat
- Numbness of the tongue or other parts of the mouth
Difficulty moving the tongue or jaw
How The Screening Is Performed
During an oral cancer screening, the dentist examines the entire head and neck region, both externally and internally.
This includes checking the lymph nodes, jawbone, facial symmetry, mucous membranes, tongue, palate, tonsillar region, and salivary glands.Most malignant changes in the mouth can be detected early – often even in a precancerous stage – when treatment is most effective.
Unfortunately, because pain usually occurs only in later stages, many people ignore the subtle early signs.
Don’t Delay Your Screening
A malignant lesion detected early can often be stopped, reversed, and completely cured.
The procedure is quick, painless, and completely non-invasive, yet it can quite literally save your life.At Profident, we believe dentistry is about more than just teeth and gums.
Our mission is to preserve oral health, identify both benign and malignant changes in their earliest stages, and ensure that every patient receives the appropriate care as soon as possible.
