Dental Services

Oral Cancer Screening Dentist

A Visit to Country Dental Could Actually Save Your Life

Our dentists will conduct an oral cancer screening test to intercept and diagnose this rare yet serious and potentially fatal disease.

Dentists are experts not only in teeth but in the whole area of the body above your neck. Similar to a regular physical from your family doctor, your oral cancer screening dentist in Fergus will check the overall health of the soft tissues of the mouth.

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Causes of Oral Cancer

Eighty percent of mouth cancer stems from cigarette smoking and mostly affects patients over the age of 40. Chewing tobacco is similarly a dangerous habit that directly leads to an increased risk of cancer of the mouth. Smoking cessation can contribute to a decreased risk of mouth cancer over time but is no guarantee. A screening test for mouth cancer is also recommended for young patients with the sexually transmitted HPV disease as well as patients who have had high sun exposure.

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Warning Signs of Oral Cancer

The most frequent places where mouth cancer is found are the tongue, the lips, the gums, the floor of the mouth, and the soft palate tissues in the back of the tongue.

Visit our Fergus dental clinic for an oral cancer screening, or call us at 519-787-7878 immediately if you see any of the following warning signs:

Repeated bleeding from anywhere in the mouth or throat
White or red patches inside the mouth or on the lips
Swelling, a growth, or a lump anywhere in or around the mouth or neck
Any sore that lasts longer than 2 weeks
Persistent hoarseness or difficulty in swallowing

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Oral Cancer Screening Dentist for Preventative Care

The best way to avoid mouth cancer is to stop tobacco use in all its forms; this includes smoking as well as chewing tobacco. Watch your alcohol intake as well. You should note that heavy drinking combined with smoking increases your risk of developing mouth cancer more than 15 times as opposed to those who do not use tobacco or alcohol. There is also research that links eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables with a lower risk of developing mouth cancer.

Learn more about mouth cancer from this Canadian Dental Association article entitled, Oral Cancer: Just the Facts.

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Successful Treatment Depends On Early Detection

Visit your friendly dentists at Country Dental for regular checkups at least once per year. The survival rate greatly increases the earlier that mouth cancer is detected and treated. During your next visit to Country Dental ask Dr. Albana, Dr. Himani, or our oral hygiene specialists to screen for mouth cancer. There is no extra cost and the benefits are priceless.

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Ask to speak with an oral cancer screening dentist when you book your dental appointment at our Fergus Dental clinic:

Fergus – 519-787-7878

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Oral Cancer Screening Frequently Asked Questions

What is oral cancer screening?

Screening for mouth cancer is generally done during routine dental exams. The dentist will periodically examine the oral cavity for lesions or signs of mouth cancer and inspect the tongue, gums, lips, upper palate, and soft tissues below the tongue.

How much does oral cancer screening cost?

Screening for oral cancer usually doesn’t cost anything since it is conducted by your dentist during a routine dental exam.

How often should you have oral cancer screening?

An annual screening is recommended for high-risk patients (someone who smokes or drinks heavily for instance) and for people over the age of 40. Screening for mouth cancer is usually done during a routine dental exam.

Is oral cancer screening necessary?

Early detection of mouth cancer is the primary goal of screenings, especially for high-risk patients who smoke, consume alcohol, are aging, or are genetically prone to cancer.

How to do an oral cancer screening?

Screening for mouth cancer should only be conducted by a medical or dental professional, someone who has specific training in screening for mouth cancer.