14 Cernon Street Vacaville, CA 95688
Vacaville Oral Cancer Screenings
Did you know that an oral cancer screening has the potential to save your life in just one simple dentist visit? Nearly 10,000 people die each year in the United States from oral cancer, but you don’t have to become a part of that statistic. Our team provides comprehensive oral cancer screenings in Vacaville, CA to all patients in order to identify this dangerous disease as early as possible.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer can develop anywhere along your lips, cheek lining, gums, tongue, floor of mouth, roof of mouth, or throat. It is caused by dangerous changes to cells in the mouth tissue. Certain risk factors increase your risk of oral cancer, including the heavy use of tobacco and alcohol, excessive sun exposure to the lips, and the disease HPV. Research also shows that men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer.
Signs of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer doesn’t always show obvious symptoms in its early stages, which is why oral cancer screenings can make such a difference to your health. Many of the signs that do occur are so subtle that you may not realize they are correlated to oral cancer.
Be sure to stay alert for the following symptoms of oral cancer:
- A mouth sore or lump that doesn’t heal after a few weeks
- Red or white patches
- Pain and tenderness in the mouth or along the lips
- Unusual difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking
- A change in your bite
- Sensation of something being caught in the throat
What is an Oral Cancer Screening?
An oral cancer screening is a very simple yet powerful examination that your dentist in Vacaville can perform to check your mouth for signs of oral cancer. If you do have oral cancer, a screening helps detect it early and give you the greatest chance to beat it.
We perform routine oral cancer screenings every day for our patients, especially when many risk factors are involved. A screening includes a systematic visual examination of all soft tissue in the mouth, as well as a physical examination of the neck and lymph nodes. We also ask important questions during every oral cancer screening to gain a comprehensive understanding of your unique oral cancer risk factors.
Benefits of Early Detection
Cancer detection is never good news, but an oral health screening makes early detection possible. Early detection catches oral cancer before it has the opportunity to fully develop and spread through and beyond your mouth, which makes it more likely that your dentist and doctor can treat your cancer into remission. Early detection also supports the use of less aggressive cancer treatments, improved quality of life and a higher survival rate.
Oral Cancer Treatment Options
If your screening at Vacaville Dental Professionals results in the early detection of oral cancer, we will work with you to identify the best treatment option for your unique case. Your cancer’s location and stage, as well as your health and personal needs, all influence your form of treatment:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted drug treatment
Don’t Skip Your Six Month Dental Cleanings
Staying healthy isn’t always easy, but staying on top of your six month dental cleanings is one of the simplest ways to protect your health and use early detection to combat a dangerous form of cancer. Schedule your oral exam today!
Get In Touch:
Office Hours:
Monday: 8AM - 5PM
Tuesday: 8AM - 5PM
Wednesday: 8AM - 5PM
Thursday: 8AM - 5PM
Friday: 8AM - 5PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday Closed