Oral Cancer is the 6th most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved.
Every hour of every day, someone in North America dies of this awful disease.
Anyone can develop oral cancer, but some people are at a higher risk. These high-risk groups include those over the age of 50 and men, who are twice as likely as women to develop the disease. Smoking or chewing smokeless tobacco products, consuming alcohol excessively, and constant exposure to the sun at a young age are also risk factors.
The high death rate associated with oral cancer is directly related to how late in its development oral cancer is detected. Regular screening for oral cancer is the key to early detection and survival.
During your oral care visit at La Vita Dental, our dental professionals inspect your oral tissues for sores, unusual red or white patches, lumps, or thickenings anywhere inside the mouth, on the lips, or in the throat and neck area. If we discover abnormal tissues during your visit, a biopsy will be sent to a laboratory to determine if the cells are cancerous or precancerous.
Through a routine visual screening, we can often detect premalignant abnormalities and cancer at an early stage – when treatment is not only less expensive and more successful but can potentially save your life.
Feel free to contact our dental professionals at La Vita Dental Centre for more information about our commitment to oral health and prevention of oral cancer at your next scheduled visit!