Oral Cancer Screenings
Dallas, TX Dentist
Dr. Larry Herwig emphasizes the importance of providing routine oral cancer screenings. He is trained to detect oral cancer, even in early stages.
Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, can be found on the lips, tongue, gums or lining of the mouth or throat. Studies show it is responsible for the death of one adult American every hour. Early detection of oral cancer is crucial to its treatment success. For this reason, Dr. Herwig and his hygienists routinely do an annual oral cancer screening.
There are a number of oral cancer symptoms that start to appear early on, including:
- White or red patches in your mouth
- A mouth sore that won’t heal within two weeks
- Unexplained bleeding in your mouth
- A soreness of feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
- Problem or pain with swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue
- Lumps or swellings in or around your mouth
- Ear pain
- Dramatic weight loss
If you show any symptoms that last for more than a week and show no signs of regressing, schedule an appointment for an evaluation with our dentist immediately.
Oral cancer can happen to anyone, although research suggests that it is slightly more common in men. Those who smoke or use tobacco products are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancer. Oral cancer is also more likely to occur in those with genetic predisposition, prolonged sun exposure, or in those who drink alcohol excessively. However, it is important to note that anyone can get oral cancer.
Treatment success depends on the size, type and stage of the cancer. In most cases, small cancerous tumors are removed along with a small ring of healthy tissue that surrounded it and radiation or chemotherapy is then delivered to kill off any remaining cancerous cells.
Dr. Herwig and his team provide comprehensive, high quality dental care for families including oral cancer screenings. He will make sure to understand your concerns and answer your questions, as well as take the time to fully diagnose any oral health problems.
Cancer that occurs in other areas of the body are commonly treated with radiation and/or chemotherapy, which can have detrimental effects on the mouth tissues such as ulcers and dry mouth. Our office can offer suggestions of palliative treatments for improved comfort and oral health during these difficult times so please contact us for more information.
Contact our Dallas dental office for more information on oral cancer screenings or for a consultation.