During routine dental examinations at Thompson & Frey Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Owensboro, we may look for signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer refers to cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat.
Sometimes people don’t realize the seriousness of oral cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 39,000 people will get oral cancer this year.
Consider this sobering news from the Oral Cancer Foundation:
“The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).”
When we perform an oral cancer screening during your dental examination, we look for red or white spots, bleeding, lumps, difficulty swallowing, loose teeth, any color changes, and mouth sores. Is is important to tell us if your bite has changed, if you have sores that won’t heal, and prolonged hoarseness. An earache in only one ear can also be an indicator.
The existence of any of these symptoms does not mean you have oral cancer, as they can be caused by any number of other conditions. However, if we discover something unusual, we may order additional tests or refer you to a medical doctor for further diagnosis and treatment if necessary.
At Thompson & Frey Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Owensboro we want the best possible health – dental, and general – for all of our patients. Services include family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule a checkup today.
Contact Thompson & Frey Cosmetic & Family Dentistry:
270-683-0620
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3164 Alvey Park Dr E
Owensboro, Kentucky
42303
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