A Dentist’s Role in Screening for Oral Cancer

Most people know they should visit their dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings, but there is another crucial reason to visit your dentist regularly: oral cancer screening. Like most cancers, the prognosis with oral cancer is better the earlier it is detected. For most people, the dentist is the only healthcare professional who takes a look inside the mouth on a regular basis.

If you are due to see the dentist in Southeast TX, give Nederland Family Dental a call. We always welcome new patients!

ORAL CANCER: THE STATISTICS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, oral cancer affects some 30,000 people each year. With a five-year survival rate of just 50 percent, it’s crucial that oral cancer is discovered early, so it is treatable.

When oral cancer is more advanced, treatment is sometimes brutal. People often lose their ability to speak, or they may lose part of their tongue or jawbone. The disfigurement is tough to look at—and even tougher to live with. Quality of life is greatly impacted.

YOUR DENTIST CAN HELP

When you visit your dentist regularly, the complications from oral cancer can often be reduced. Many times, the level of treatment is much less invasive when your dentist detects it early. The only way to ensure your oral health is to visit your dentist on a regular basis.

Your dentist can also talk to you about lowering your risk of developing oral cancer by living a healthy lifestyle that does not include tobacco products, excessive alcohol, and HPV infection.

CALL NEDERLAND FAMILY DENTAL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

As your trusted dentist in Southeast, TX, you can count on Dr. Whitney Gomez to answer your questions about oral cancer and to help you stay on top of your oral health.