Oral Cancer Screening

Most cancer is treatable in the early stages, including mouth and oral cancers. When detected and treated early, oral cancer has a very high success rate. Unfortunately, there are very few signs or symptoms in the early stages, and many cases of oral cancer go undetected until they are in the later stages or spread to other areas of the body. Oral cancer screening is one of the best ways to identify mouth cancer early, which we offer at Optum Dental Arts in Tampa, FL.

While symptoms in the early stages of oral cancer are less likely, there are some conditions that can alert you to a possible problem. Abnormalities in the mouth and throat should always be examined to ensure they are not signs of serious diseases like cancer. Some of the possible symptoms of oral cancer can include:

• White or red spots on the oral tissues
• Sores that do not heal after two weeks
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Lumps or bumps on the oral tissues
• Thickening or swelling lips, gums or other oral tissues
• Rough spots inside the mouth

While there are many other possible causes of sores, lumps or spots in the mouth than cancer, it is always best to have these issues examined by a dentist.

An oral cancer screening can detect changes in the mouth tissues that you may not be able to see or feel. This screening can be performed with your routine checkup, and it is a quick, painless procedure that could save your life. Almost 10,000 people die each year from oral cancer in the U.S., and over 50,000 on average are diagnosed with this disease. Catching it in the earliest stages is the best way to survive this disease, which can be accomplished with regular oral cancer screenings.

Your health is important to us at Optum Dental Arts. We provide preventive oral health options to protect your smile and overall wellness. To schedule your next dental checkup and oral cancer screening, contact our office in Tampa. We welcome new patients and accept most dental insurance plans at our practice.