Can Oral Cancer Be Prevented?

Every day, one hundred new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. While many people think oral cancer is limited to long term users of tobacco and alcohol, there are many factors which put people at risk. Over the last four years, the number of diagnosed cases has been increasing, and is rising among women and non-smokers.

Fortunately, there is now a way to detect precancerous cells, long before oral cancer can even start. At every routine visit to our office, we perform a thorough oral examination to note any abnormal spots in the mouth. Most people will have tiny white or red spots at one time or another. Whether you bit your cheek or burned the roof of your mouth on pizza, a small lesion will often be nothing to worry about. However, some oral spots are an indicator of unhealthy cells. It typically takes several years before these cells can cause any harm. During this time, the spot can be removed, long before oral cancer can start.

Our office is now using a simple brush test which is able to distinguish these precancerous cells from healthy cells. It works much like a pap smear can detect abnormal cells years before cervical cancer can start. Once the spots are located, a few simple brush strokes to the area is all that is needed to be sent out for a computer assisted laboratory analysis. There is no longer any need to be referred out for a scalpel biopsy. The test we can perform in the office is quick and painless, and we usually have results within a couple weeks. Even if abnormal cells are identified, they can typically be removed years before becoming oral cancer.

You can now add oral cancer screening to your list of reasons to visit the dentist regularly. Now, more than ever, we are equipped to diagnose and prevent oral cancer from occurring. Don't hesitate to call us if you ever notice a spot in your mouth you may be concerned about. A visit lasting only a few minutes may be all you need to stop oral cancer.