February 4, 2019, has been set aside as World Cancer Day. Its mission is to empower “all of us across the world to show support, raise our collective voice, take personal action and press our governments to do more.” Group Health Dental takes cancer seriously as well. For that reason, during our comprehensive dental checkups, we examine your entire mouth for signs of oral cancer. By detecting it early, your chances of successful treatment increases.
Why We Do It
Our dental office made oral cancer detection part of our routine comprehensive dental checkups due to a large number of oral cancer cases. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation “close to 49,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 9,750 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day.”
How We Do It
Our dental professionals at Group Health Dental check for signs of oral cancer in your mouth by looking at your lips and the inside of your mouth. We will examine your gums and the inside of your cheeks and tongue. We will also look at the roof of your mouth. We look for red or white patches, bleeding sores, thick or hard spots or lumps or a roughened or crusted area in your mouth.
Oral cancer has many risk factors that can be avoided. Habits such as smoking, tobacco use, and drinking increase your chances a great deal. Book your comprehensive dental checkup with Group Health Dental.
